Celebrating our Year 12 students' achievements at the IGCSE Assembly & Being Human: Year 10 Celebrate Creativity Through the FOBISIA Short Story Competition
![Celebrating our Year 12 students' achievements at the IGCSE Assembly & Being Human: Year 10 Celebrate Creativity Through the FOBISIA Short Story Competition]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1761284162/britishschoolmanilaorg/ozogazfylpeuvccdsz3x/SeniorSchoolNews_5.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1761284162/britishschoolmanilaorg/ozogazfylpeuvccdsz3x/SeniorSchoolNews_5.png","width":400}])
Dear Families,
Today we celebrated our Year 12 students' achievements. Back in May and June, they each took between 18-32 written and oral examinations in pursuit of their International General Certificates in Education (iGCSE). We were delighted to host the students and many of their families at our annual iGCSE Ceremony.
2025, is one of our most successful iGCSE cohorts on record; 100% of our students gained 5 A*-C grades or above. The UK comparable statistic is 67%. 84% achieved all A*-C grades and 35% attained all A*/A grades.
The success stories across all 621 individual exam entries are outstanding and a testament to the commitment of our students, teachers and families.
We are now looking forward to the BSM Fun Run on Sunday. Tickets are available at the gate, and we hope to see as many of you there as possible.
Mark Attwood
Head of Senior School
Being Human: Year 10 Celebrate Creativity Through the FOBISIA Short Story Competition
Each year, our Year 10 students take part in the annual FOBISIA Short Story Competition, and this year’s theme — “Being Human” — inspired an incredible range of ideas and emotions. Every single Year 10 student wrote and submitted a story, exploring what it means to be human in their own unique voice.
After weeks of writing and revising, each class selected their favourite entries, and the top eight stories were read aloud to the entire year group during the Creative Writing Celebration. The judging panel of Mr van der Linde, Mr Moore, and Ms Mangilog were tasked with the challenge of selecting a standout story among such rich and diverse writing.
This year also marked a new and exciting addition: a panel of professional judges, who brought their expertise and unique perspectives to the process. Among them were Mike Everley, an internationally renowned and prolific Welsh poet and writer; Gen Asenjo, a celebrated Filipino author and professor of creative writing who recently represented the Philippines as an honorary speaker at the Frankfurt International Literature Festival; and Josh Lo, a BSM alumna (Class of 2024) who is now pursuing creative writing and leading his own student writers’ group. Our own student head of creative writing, Stephanie (Year 10), also joined our crew to add a student’s perspective.
Students were fascinated to see how different judges valued different aspects of storytelling, from narrative voice and structure to originality and emotional impact. It was a powerful lesson in how creative work is interpreted in many ways, depending on who’s reading it.
On the day, our school judges and Steph Brown selected Mica (Year 10)’s story, 'The Mirror, then Me', as the overall winner for its wonderful performance, distinct originality, and range of flair and clarity. Special commendations on the day went to Bella (Year 10) and Athalia (Year 10) as well. Our professional writers chose Daryn (Year 10)’s story, 'Flawless', as their favourite because of how it played with genre elements. This demonstrates the rich subjectivity of creative writing.
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Beyond the competition itself, this celebration offered something more meaningful: an appreciation for the difference between writing for exams and writing for life. While our students excel in academic writing, this event highlighted the importance of creativity, self-expression, and the courage to share one’s own voice. At BSM, we pride ourselves not only on academic excellence but also on fostering creativity, integrity, and the confidence to take creative risks.
For students inspired to continue developing their writing, the Winston School Magazine offers a fantastic opportunity to explore storytelling further. With a growing focus on creative writing, it’s the perfect platform for young writers to express their ideas and imagination.
Early Close for Senior School Student-Led Conferences (SLCs) Reminder
A message was sent out regarding the early close dates in Senior School for the upcoming Senior School Student Led Conferences (SLCs).
RELATED LINKS
- Senior School News