Ovid for All - West Midlands

The Ovid for All competition is a free annual storytelling competition for KS3 and primary state school pupils, run by Classics for All West Midlands.

Based on the Classic Tales storytelling resources created by the Cambridge School Classics Project (CSCP) in partnership with storytellers Hugh Lupton and Daniel Morden, the competition invites pupils to listen to oral retellings of myths from Ovid's Metamorphoses and respond creatively to what they have heard. The best entries are celebrated at a prizegiving ceremony at the University of Birmingham.  

Developed from a CSCP initiative and endorsed by them, the competition is aimed primarily at non-specialist classics teachers - no prior knowledge of classics is required.

How It Works

Step One

Step Three

Step One

Attend the teacher information session

Each year we run a free online session for teachers giving a detailed overview of the competition, how it works, and guidance on delivering the materials. Recordings are available.

Step Two

Step Three

Step One

Deliver sessions in class or club

In the first half of the autumn term, teachers deliver sessions based on one or more of that year's myths, using the free Classic Tales resources. The competition can be run as part of a whole class lesson or with a select group in a club.

Step Three

Pupils create their responses

Pupils produce creative responses to the myths they have heard. Responses can take any creative form - written, visual, or otherwise.

Step Four

Step Three

Submit your entries

Schools judge the first round internally and submit a maximum of three entries by the deadline. A participation certificate is available for all pupils who take part.

Step Five

Shortlisting and prize giving

Shortlisted entries are invited to a prizegiving ceremony at the University of Birmingham, where winners are announced and celebrated.

Step Six

Step Five

Keep going!

For many schools, Ovid for All is just the beginning. The competition makes a fantastic entry point for a classics club, and pupils who enjoyed the myths may be ready to take on further challenges such as the Olympus Challenge or the Ancient World Reading Challenge.

Getting Involved

Key Dates

Information Session: Monday 6th July 2026

Submission deadline: 2nd November 2026

Prize Giving: first week of December 2026

Ways to Enter

The competition is primarily designed for individual entries, and we encourage pupils to work independently where possible. Small group entries of no more than two pupils will also be accepted. If a larger group would like to work together, please get in touch with us to discuss before submitting.

Schools carry out the first round of judging themselves and submit a maximum of three entries per school. Some schools run the competition with an entire year group, meaning 100+ pupils may be taking part - while we would love to see all of that work, it simply isn't possible to judge at that scale. Teachers and schools are free to use whatever criteria they like when selecting their three entries. The shortlisted entries are then judged by our panel.

Resources

The following free resources are available to all registered schools:

General competition resources:

West Midlands Competition Guidance

Teacher Guidance

Lesson Plans

A guide to preparing classes for listening to myths

Classroom PowerPoint presentation

Creative Prompt Menu

Curriculum Links

What Next? — suggestions for taking classics further after the competition

For each myth:

Full transcript of the story

Teaching notes

Additional resources

To register your school and receive access to all resources, email us at westmidlands@classicsforall.org.uk.

Prize-Winning Entries

Looking for inspiration? Browse entries from previous years to see the range of creative responses pupils have produced. From poetry and prose to illustration and artwork, the entries showcase the incredible creativity that Ovid's myths can inspire.

Ovid Photo Album

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can enter?

The competition is open to KS3 and primary state school pupils. Both individual and small group entries are permitted.

How many myths do we have to cover?

We suggest three myths each year, which are rotated to keep things interesting. If you would prefer to focus on one myth, explore more than three, or focus on a different myth entirely, that is entirely your choice. If time is limited, we recommend focusing on one myth in depth.

How much teaching time is needed?

We recommend a minimum of four hours of teaching time, though many schools choose to spend longer. This might be spread across lessons or club sessions — whatever works best for your timetable. Pupils can produce their creative responses during school hours or at home.

Some schools run the competition with a whole year group and cover all three myths in depth, while others focus on a single myth with a smaller group. If you are using the competition as a starting point for a Classics club or as a way to introduce pupils to the possibility of studying Classics at GCSE, you may find it worth investing more time to build enthusiasm and momentum.

How much does it cost?

Nothing. The competition is completely free to enter and all resources and training are free.

Is there more than one Ovid Competition?

Yes - the Ovid for All competition is also run by Classics for All North and Classics for All Bristol and South West. There are slight regional variations in how the competitions are run, so please contact the relevant Network Coordinator directly.

What about prizegiving?

Prizegiving is held at the University of Birmingham. The date and further details will be confirmed each year.

Can I watch the teacher information session if I missed it?

Yes - a recording is shared with all registered schools. If you would like access to a previous recording, email us at westmidlands@classicsforall.org.uk.

Who are the Judges?

Hebe Barlow: West Midlands Network Coordinator, Classics for All

Dr Elena Theodorakopoulos: Senior Lecturer in Classics, University of Birmingham

Dr Michael Amess: Assistant Professor in Secondary Teacher Education: English, University of Birmingham

Ovid for All - West Midlands

How It Works

Step One

Step Three

Step One

Step Two

Step Three

Step One

Step Three

Step Three

Step Three

Step Four

Step Three

Step Three

Step Five

Step Five

Step Five

Step Six

Step Five

Step Five

Getting Involved

Key Dates

Ways to Enter

Resources

Prize-Winning Entries

Frequently Asked Questions

Ready to Get Involved?

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