PUPILS were captivated when children’s author Michael Morpurgo visited their school to read them one of his stories.

He spoke to about 50 children aged six to 13 at The Unicorn School in Marcham Road, Abingon, which is for dyslexic pupils.

The former children’s laureate read from his story I Believe in Unicorns, about a reluctant young reader who is inspired by a librarian who tells spellbinding stories.

During his visit on Thursday Mr Morpurgo launched a competition called Be Inspired, inviting pupils to write a story about someone or something that has encouraged them to achieve more than they thought possible.

Mr Morpurgo, author of War Horse, which was turned into a hit play at the National Theatre, said: “This competition is not about perfect spelling and presentation, it is about storytelling and having the courage to find your own unique voice.”

When pupils at the school asked him why so many of his stories focused on war, he told them: “I was born in 1943 and I was in London growing up after the Second World War and played on the bomb sites.

“By the time I got to your age I knew it was not just buildings that got ruined.

“My uncle Peter got shot down in the RAF and never grew older.

“When you have a war it does not just kill people, it leaves behind it after it’s gone a horrible sadness.”

Jackie Vaux, headteacher at the school, which celebrates its 20th anniversary next year, said: “Dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties can be helped significantly and the aim of the competition is to highlight the positive – many of the brightest and most creative people suffer from dyslexia.

“It should not be used as a label to stop achieving.”

The competition is free to enter, but pupils are being asked to donate £1 to the school’s bursary fund, which helps dyslexic pupils from the state sector to come to the school.

Competition details are being sent to the headteacher of every special needs school in the county.

There will be three winners in each category, and first prize in each category is £100.

Mr Morpurgo also visited Abingdon School’s Amey Theatre, which hosted the Oxfordshire Book Awards, when pupils voted for books by their favourite authors, Mr Morpurgo, Nick Sharratt and Rachel Ward.

The winning books were Running Wild by Mr Morpurgo, Numbers by Rachel Ward, and What’s in the Witch’s Kitchen? by Nick Sharratt.

About 300 pupils from schools across the county attended the presentation.

An entry form and full competition details can be downloaded by visiting the website at unicrondyslexia.co.uk

  • MICHAEL Morpurgo OBE is the author of more than 120 books for children, five of which have been made into films.

Born in Hertfordshire in 1943, he was evacuated to Cumbria during the last days of the war, then returned to London.

After an unsuccessful spell in the Army, he took up teaching and started to write.

He left teaching after 10 years to set up Farms for City Children with his wife.

Now a grandfather, his best-known books include The Butterfly Lion, Private Peaceful, Kensuke’s Kingdom and War Horse. In 2003, he became the third children’s laureate and in 2006 was awarded an OBE for services to literature.