A SHORT story competition has been launched by Holmes Chapel Comprehensive School in memory of Nell Jones.

Year 9 student Nell, 14, was one of 22 victims of the Manchester Arena attack in May, and the school has been working closely with her family to create a lasting tribute.

Each year, a HCCS student in Year 9 will be presented with the Nell Jones prize – sponsored by her family – for the best short story.

Nell’s dad, Ernie Jones, said: “Losing Nell is the hardest thing we have ever had to deal with – it is heartbreaking.

“Nell was a lovely girl who loved school. She just got on with it. She was bright, worked hard and was doing really well.

“We are delighted that her name will live on at the school in this way. The thought that her memory will be used to encourage children to learn and to succeed at school would make her very proud.”

Linked with a national 500-word short story competition, HCCS students from Year 7 to Year 10 will submit their stories.

For this academic year’s inaugural competition, a special prize will be awarded to the winner in Year 10 – the year group Nell would have been a part of.

Helena Collison, the school’s literacy co-ordinator and director of The Communications Super Faculty, said: “We will be linking the Nell Jones award to Radio 2’s national, 500-word, short story competition for children in the 10 to 13 age range.

“Entries will be encouraged from year groups 7 to 10, with entries from the year 7 and 8 entered into the national competition.

“The Nell Jones prize will be awarded to the best short story from a student in year 9, and as with the national competition, there will be a gold, silver and bronze award.

“Improving literacy skills and promoting the enjoyment of reading help to develop key life skills which, in turn, helps us to live up to the school’s ambition to get the very best out of every student.”

Over the past few years, staff and students at the school have developed a whole-school literacy programme aimed at promoting the joy of reading as well as improving reading and writing.

Nell’s competition will start after Christmas, with winning stories entered into the national competition before the end of February.