Children aged four to 14 are invited to submit samples of their best writing by March 31. Winners will receive prizes of Parker pens and the school submitting the most outstanding collection of entries will receive pound;1,000 for educational equipment. The competition is run in conjunction with the Society of Assistants Teaching in Preparatory Schools. Details: 01371 856823 (telfax).

ENGINEERING EDUCATION SCHEME.

A team of A-level students, Sarah Bird, Hilary Branfield and Samantha Newcombe, of Sir William Borlase’s Grammar School, Marlow, Buckinghamshire, came top in the EES national finals and will go on to exhibit their work at an international competition in Stockholm in August. Working in conjunction with Thames Water, the girls researched, designed and built a prototype “bore-hole centring device” into which engineers can lower a camera or other device.

BLUE CIRCLE NAME AND PAINT THE TRAIN COMPETITION.

Alisha Wilson, aged seven, a pupil at Westbury County Infants’ School, Wiltshire, has won this competition to name and paint Westbury Works’ new locomotive. She received a pound;50 book token, a family day out at Didcot Railway Centre and pound;100 for her school library.