Stop press! Borealis in running for top school magazine award
Pupils at Brae High School are anticipating success as their school magazine has been short-listed for awards in five categories including Scottish School Magazine of the Year.
The magazine Borealis, which comprises artwork, photography, short stories, poems, interviews and opinion pieces, impressed the panel at the Periodical Publishers Association of Scotland, and some of the editorial team will go to an awards ceremony in Edinburgh next month.
A total of 68 schools entered the competition and 18 have been short-listed through various categories.
As well as being in line for the top prize the magazine, co-edited by sixth-year pupils Paula Grubska and James Morton, is on the short list for Best Magazine Cover (a striking colour image of the northern lights), Best Artwork and Photography, Best Commercial Strategy and Outstanding Individual (Rowan Johnson, for her contribution to the venture).
The tradition of a magazine was revived by English teacher Jim Mainland after 25 years. With his support the eight members of the editorial team, drawn from all age groups, met regularly and all had different roles.
Between them they were responsible for the editorial content, artwork, layout, IT, advertising and the business side and also had to work to deadlines.
The 44-page A4 magazine, Mr Mainland said, was “pupil-led” and a “terrific vehicle” for displaying their talents. It was his idea to enter it in the competition and he said he was “really delighted the pupils’ work had been recognised in such a prestigious competition”.
The magazine could have been even bigger, he said, such was the amount of talent in the school. But, he said: “The magazine is a really good way of recording and preserving what the pupils have done.”
Borealis will go on sale shortly and some money has already come in from advance orders from parents.
