Ben Taberner may only be 12 years old, but he has his head in the stars.

The young science-lover, from Bicester, is among 20 budding poets at Woodeaton Manor School, near Kidlington, to have their poems published after entering a competition. His is all about outer space.

Ben 12, who is autistic, said he preferred maths and science to English, but that did not stop him putting pen to paper to take part in the poetry competition.

Proud mum Lisa said: "Ben has a vivid imagination and he was really, really pleased when he found out his poem would be published. It could be the first of many."

She added that instead of reading Ben a bedtime story, they made them up themselves.

She said: "He likes to role play - I have to be at least 10 different characters, all with different voices, and he lets me know if I get one wrong.

"Ben doesn't like the subject English, instead he prefers maths, but he loves maps and atlases - if you get lost when driving you can always ask Ben for directions."

In total, 20 pupils aged between 11 and 15 at Woodeaton Manor School, a secondary school for pupils with social and emotional difficulties, who took part in the competition Talkin' 'Bout My Generation, run by Young Writers, will have their poems published.

A Young Writers spokesman said: "Talkin' 'Bout My Generation gives pupils the chance to let their pens do the talking - on any subject from home and family, to the environment and world politics.

"We select poems on the basis of imagination, perception and expression. The young poets' ages are also taken into account."

Woodeaton assistant head- teacher Linda Norman told the Oxford Mail her school had entered the annual competition for several years.

She said pupils were looking forward to seeing their poems in print when the book is published later this year.

"It's excellent for the pupils' self-esteem," she said.

She added the children were all delighted when they received certificates showing they had been selected for publication.

"I think they've all done very well," she said.