We are excited to share a fantastic opportunity for your school community.

The Hunter Foundation has launched a national competition inviting Scottish school pupils – both primary and secondary – to share their boldest ideas for Scotland’s future through their ‘If I Ruled Scotland’ competition. The challenge? To creatively express what pupils would change if they were in charge of Scotland!

What you could win:

• £5,000 for the winning school
• £2,500 each for two runners-up
• And – to celebrate 25 years of Columba 1400 – we are delighted that the winning school will receive a Young People’s Leadership Academy (YPLA) valued at £30,000
• Plus, the opportunity to present your proposal at the exclusive Founders Conference at Gleneagles on Friday, 7 November 2025.

What to submit
Submissions can take any form – essay, poem, film, artwork, or any other creative medium – and should explore what your school would do if you ran Scotland, including what you would change, why, and how. Content should be no more than two pages in written form or two minutes if it is a video or audio clip. Be as creative as you like – and include how your school would use the £5,000 prize and how you would select pupils to take part in the YPLA.

How to enter
The closing date for entries is Monday, 22 September 2025. Submissions must be sent by a teacher to schools@thehunterfoundation.co.uk and include your school’s name, contact email, and phone number. For more details, visit this page.