Popular children’s authors Janni Howker, Grace Nichols, Philip Pullman and Philip Ridley have written autobiographical pieces especially for TES readers. The other two pieces in the booklet are by young winners of the first Write Away competition. All six come with suggestions about how to encourage secondary students to write about their lives.

Once again, pupils can take part in a competition with generous prizes provided by McDonald’s Restaurants. Entry details will be found on the back of the Write Away 2 booklet. Judging will be organised by the National Association for the Teaching of English. A celebrity judge will choose the six overall winners.

A similar competition for primary pupils will be announced in next week’s Primary magazine, with new pieces by Ad le Geras, Mary Hoffman and Michael Rosen.

As well as receiving Pounds 100 each, and money to cover the cost of a writer’s residency at their schools,the 20 finalists (10 primary, 10 secondary) will attend a matinee at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in London next summer. Winning entries will be published in The TES. If you haven’t received your copy of Write Away 2, or require extra ones, Tel: 0114 2555419. Fax: 0114 2555296.