A PUPIL from The Royal School has enthralled judges with her original story about unsavoury mermaids as part of United Learning’s StorySLAM competition.

In the annual story-telling competition, Year 6 pupil Kinvara Brailsford went head to head with Year 5 and 6 students from across the group’s southern primary schools and was named runner-up.

StorySLAM – which takes inspiration from a similar event in New York – tasks pupils to write an original story and perform it in front of their peers, teachers and a panel of judges.

Having performed her story in front of her classmates and teachers at The Royal School in the autumn term, Kinvara was selected to represent the school in United Learning’s southern final.

Kinvara competed against pupils from across the group’s southern schools and performed her piece in front of a judging panel which included children’s author Sarah Holding.

The judges were hugely impressed by Kinvara’s story and her dramatic telling of it.

She was named runner-up in the competition and was presented with a certificate and several books.

Along with the other finalists, Kinvara will see her story published in United Learning’s StorySLAM Anthology.

Kerrie Daunter, head of prep school at The Royal School, said: “Kinvara represented The Royal with her fantastic story about some rather unsavoury mermaids.

“She took the stage by storm and came second in a very strong field.

“Naturally, we are all very proud of Kinvara.”

Sarah Holding, children’s author and StorySLAM judge, said: “I’ve heard some incredible pieces of writing and been thoroughly impressed by Years 5 and 6 pupils’ willingness to perform and engage an audience.

“So much raw talent had been nurtured and brought to a level of excellence.

“Congratulations to all our finalists and especially to this year’s winners.”