Ballyclare Primary School in Northern Ireland has won £1000 worth of prizes in the Japan Webpage Contest for Schools, a new contest organised by the Japan Foundation London.

Ballyclare wowed the judges with its entertaining and inspiring website, which was set up to showcase projects with its Japanese partner school. You can read about the school’s ongoing attempt to walk the distance to Japan, which kicked off with an event where pupils walked to school in their pyjamas. You can also watch narrated videos of stories about an Evil Germ, a Grumpy Tiger, a Super Penguin (and more!) written collaboratively by children in both schools.

Other prize-winners were Bearsden Primary School in Glasgow, South Wolds Community School in Nottinghamshire, and Tile Hill Wood School and Language College in Coventry.

Bearsden’s entry was designed and created by the class of P6B, who did an 8-week topic on Japan, and claimed both a Runner-Up Prize and also the Public Vote Award. You can find out how to make kokeshi dolls out of yoghurt pots, read news stories about Godzilla attacking Tokyo, learn about the latest video games created by P6B, and be amazed by hi-speed origami and tangrams. South Wolds also won Runner-Up Prize, for its extensive website with contributions from 100 students. You can read about how South Wolds is making the most of the 2012 Olympics through its original ‘Musubi’ project, download many excellent teaching resources, and watch videos of students giving a guided tour of the school in Japanese or performing their Japanese self-introduction raps. Finally, Tile Hill Wood impressed the judges with its stylish web design, useful learning resources for students, and inspirational project with pop star Suga Shikao. Students have been using Suga-san’s music to help them in their Japanese lessons, and – thanks to their video – were even able to meet him in person and welcome him to their school!

Six other schools were shortlisted for their excellent Japan-related webpages: Altrincham Grammar School for Girls, Dame Bradbury’s School, Gartree Community School, James Allen’s Girls’ School, St Paul’s School, and Swavesey Village College.

You can see all 32 webpage entries and read about Japan-related activities in UK schools here.

A Presentation Evening and Award Ceremony will be held on Monday 14^th June at the Embassy of Japan, to celebrate the achievements of all schools taking part in the contest. The event is open to all and free to attend but booking is essential. Please click here for more information.