A student is among seven people to be shortlisted for the National Theatre’s annual playwriting competition for 14 to 19-year-olds.

Jamila Salim, 16, who attends The Haberdashers' Aske's Girls' School in Elstree, was selected from more than 400 final entries from 74 schools and colleges across the UK.

Jamila's entry Colour Inside The Lines opens with a teenage boy, called Khalil, who is desperate to get into art school. Throughout the play, Khalil explores who he is and who he wants to be, as he's let down by old friends and surprised by new ones.

Her play was shortlisted by a panel of judges including the National Theatre's head of play development, Nina Steiger, along with playwright and screenwriter Beth Steel, playwright and performer Mojisola Adebayo and Jenny Sealey, artistic director of Graeae Theatre Company.

The winning play, Perspective by Mackenzie Wellfare from HSDC Alton in Hampshire will be staged at the National Theatre in a full production in July, and also streamed to schools as part of the digital festival of new writing.

The shortlisted plays will be performed as rehearsed readings by professional actors at the National Theatre and the readings will be streamed to participating schools across the UK to watch in July. The shortlisted participants will also take part in a streamed Q&A about writing their plays.

Jamila said: I’ve always had an interest in plays and films, and particularly writing and creating work for both stage and screen. In the past I’ve had ideas that I’ve scribbled down but never really thought to try and actually write an entire piece until the New Views Festival – it seemed like the perfect opportunity to just go for it.

"Theatre and performing arts as a whole are such a big part of my life because I love how creative and limitless they are, there are so many different things to explore and you’re constantly finding new ideas and new loves."