We’re taking part in the National Literacy Trust’s Annual Literacy Survey 2025.
Please complete the survey by the end of 7th of March.
Link to survey for S1-S4: 11-16 year olds
Link to survey for S5-S6: 16-18 year olds
Annual Literacy Survey 2025
Henrietta Branford Writing Competition
If you love writing, why not enter this year’s Henrietta Branford Writing Competition.
This year’s theme for the Henrietta Branford Writing Competition is inspired by the book that won the Branford Boase Award in 2024, Steady For This by Nathanael Lessore. Nathanael’s book is bright, funny, joyful, and fresh, making readers laugh out loud.
What the judges of the Henrietta Branford Writing Competition are looking for this year are pieces of writing that will put smiles on their faces and, even better, make them chuckle or laugh out loud!
You may choose whatever you want to write from the following:
• Ideas from your imagination or something that really happened.
• A short story or a description (no more than 600 words).
• A poem; or song lyric (no more than 40 lines).
• Rap lyrics, in honour of the star of Steady For This, Shaun, aka MC Growls
You can write less than 600 words or 40 lines but not more.
The judges are looking for writing that will amuse them and hold their attention, so ask yourself, how can I grab a judge’s attention? How will I make them smile or laugh?
Anyone under the age of 19 can enter.
The entry deadline is 9am (GMT), Friday 30th May 2025.
For more information, visit the competition website.
Craft club is back!!
It’s been a long wait, but now craft club is back!
Come along every Friday from 3.05 – 4pm.
Materials are provided – just bring your imagination.
Join our group on Google Classroom: sbb4tih
BBC Young Writers’ Award 2025
Submissions are now open for the eleventh year of the BBC Young Writers’ Award!
All you need to do is write a story of up to 1,000 words – no theme, no subject: as long as it’s a story and it’s all your own work, you can submit it.
You’ve got until 24th March to get your entry in, so get writing!
Visit the website for more information 
Young People’s Book Prize – S1 Science
I was invited along to the science department by Dr Yeates today for the grand unboxing of this year’s Young People’s Book Prize 2024 shortlist from The Royal Society. S1 pupils will read the books in their science classes over the coming months before voting for their favourites.
Craft Club projects
Look at some of the projects our craft club members are working on at home.
Festive Craft Club
Join our Friday Craft Club on Google Classroom: sbb4tih
Scholastic Book Fair 2024
Celebrate Book Week Scotland 2024 with a new book from our Scholastic Book Fair.
Here’s a look at just some of the books available: scholastic-secondary-selection-autumn-2024
Our book fair is open at break, lunch and after school (apart from Thursday 21st of November).
S1 parents can visit the book fair – and library – on S1 parents’ night on Tuesday the 26th of November.
Tap to Pay is available and cash payments are also accepted.
Parents may use this link to order books too: https://bookfairs.scholastic.co.uk/pay/1411535
Place orders by 3pm Friday 29th of November.
Book Week Scotland Quiz
Twelve staff members here at Harlaw have shared the books they loved reading when they were young.
Read the descriptions they gave and try to identify them.
You can watch the slides below as often as you want, but you can only complete the Google Form once 
The winner will be announced at lunchtime on Wednesday 27th.
Good Luck!!
Here are the answers.
Film Review Competition
Congratulations to all the winners!! We’ll be going to the cinema on Thursday 21st November
Into Film Club members can win a place on our trip to see The Wild Robot this November.
All you have to do is write a review of a film you’ve watched recently and post it on our Into Film Club page by 9pm on Monday the 11th of November.
You’ve got to be in it to win it
