Prep School Poetry Writing Competition 2016

A rainy Monday afternoon in the last week of term might seem like an inauspicious day on which to hold a poetry competition. And yet, despite the day, and despite the busy nature of the week, the event sparkled with life, wit and warmth. In the weeks immediately preceding the final, children in every class of the prep school had been working on their compositions, inspired by the theme, ‘Home’, and the creative tasks set by their teachers. Every child then had the opportunity to select one poem and read it in front of the class. Of the three hundred pupils in the prep school, six finalists were chosen from each year. And then the day came, wet and miserable. And yet to be in that theatre on that day was to hear a tremendous flow of ideas and words around the concept of home. Home was food; home was sounds; home was memories; home was feelings and home was family. A whole array of ideas were conveyed across the hour and a half of readings. For all there, it was a special and magical time. Our judge was playwright and author, the school’s Head of Sixth Form, IB Coordinator and Director of Culture. As the first poetry writing competition, we hope it has set the standard for many more to come. The winners are: Year 3 Runner-up: The Magic Box - Li Yang Winner: What Kind of Home do I Have? - Crystal Year 4 Runner-up: Home is my Sibling - Toby Winner: Home is my Family - Alex Year 5 Runner-up: My Mum Won’t Let Me - Seren Winner: Home - Charlotte Year 6 Runner-up: Home - Aidan Winner:  Adventure - Jade Year 7 Runner-up: Home - Cherry Winner: Trapped - Mia Overall Winner Home - Cheryl