Spark Awards
The Spark Awards celebrate the creative writing produced by WriteSpace participants — in our workshops, in school, and in their own time. The Awards are offered by The Kartik Foundation and currently run each year in two regional streams: one with Westminster School's Platform+ programme, and one with the Ark schools network. Whichever stream you enter, you'll be writing alongside students from across London.
Who can enter
If you are a student in a participating WriteSpace school — currently through Westminster's Platform+ programme or the Ark network — you can submit work to your regional stream of the Spark Awards. The two streams have the same ethos and the same categories; they differ in submission process, deadlines and judging panel.
Categories
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Prose — fiction (short story or novel extract)
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Prose — non-fiction (article, investigation, essay, personal memoir)
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Poetry — a collection of poems or a single longer poem
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Drama — a play, dramatic piece or screenplay
There is a 2,000-word limit. Entries can be written, audio or video — for example, a recorded reading, a rap or a song. There is no set theme; the prompt is yours to choose.
Prizes
Both streams award cash or Amazon vouchers of varying amounts, as agreed with the schools. Depending on the school, there are three categories: Winner, Runner-up, Highly Commended OR 1st, 2nd, 3rd.
Winners may also receive a book bundle generously donated by our publishing partner, Pushkin Press.
How to Submit?
Written entries should be supplied as a Word document, double-spaced, 12pt, in a sensible font. Audio or video entries can be shared via a link. Students should follow the submission process shared by their school. Please include the title of your piece, the category, your school and your year group.
The two streams:
Westminster Spark Awards
Run along the Westminster School's Platform+ programme. Entries are judged by Dr Ankhi Mukherjee, Professor of English and World Literatures at the University of Oxford, together with members of the partner schools' English departments. Winners are announced at the Platform+ Graduation.
Contact for the Westminster stream: solly.hardwick@westminster.org.uk
Ark Spark Awards
Run along the Ark schools network, with entries from students across Ark academies in London. Entries are judged by a panel that draws on academics from partner universities, Ark's Network Lead for English, and members of The Kartik Foundation team.
Contact for the Ark stream: WriteSpace@kartikfoundation.org
Key dates (2026)
Westminster
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Submissions by Summer School (3 July 2026) for early feedback on your draft
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Final deadline: 12 September 2026
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Winners announced at the Platform+ Graduation, 3 October 2026
Ark
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Submissions by 18 March
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Winners announced in April, followed by school assemblies in May
The Awards take their name from Sparky the Dragon, a story written in 2005 by Kartik Prabhu when he was six years old. His schoolteacher shared the story with the Children's Laureate Sir Quentin Blake, leading to many years of friendship and to Sir Quentin's beautiful illustration of Sparky that the Awards still carry today. We think it's a good reminder of what the prize is for: not finished, polished, professional writing, but the early sparks of a writing life — and the people and moments that help those sparks catch.