ST LAURENCE School in Bradford on Avon are celebrating more student successes after two pupils were recognised for their English and Maths achievements.

Year 7 Ashley Ellison, 12 along with Year 8 Theo Bloom, 12 have beaten off stiff competition from thousands of students across the UK to be highly commended for their contributions in their chosen subjects.

Out of 14,000 entrants in this year’s National Young Writers’ Award, she was a top ten finalist for her story Death Medicine which she wrote as part of the school’s writing club.

Ashley said: “What inspired me to write it was that I thought what if we messed around with a disease and what would happen to it in the world.

“I wrote a few drafts before I decided on the final version and I felt quite proud of being in the top ten because I haven’t ever won anything before or entered anything like this. I’ve tried to always put my mind to writing and I was so happy to hear back because I didn’t expect to go so far.

“I’ve now started writing a story about a child going into adulthood but in a system where there are short cuts. It is along the lines of a dystopia theme.”

For his mathematic skills, Theo was invited to take part in the follow-on round of the UKMT Junior Maths challenge which involved answering 25 questions in one hour.

As a result of his quick-thinking equation answers, Theo was awarded a Certificate of Merit which is given to the top 25 per cent of pupils based on their performance – something which he never expected.

“It was quite surprising to hear that I got through to take part and to be given the certificate,” Theo said.

“I’ve always been interested in maths and it is something I have always been good at doing. If I was applying for a job then I could add that to my CV. I was surprised to get through the first stage let alone get any further.

“I don’t know what I want to do but I could incorporate maths into something else.”