Senior School pupils recently participated in the school round of the national Poetry by Heart competition 2022. The annual event aims to develop and support inspiring poetry teaching in schools, and to motivate pupils and teachers to explore England’s rich literary heritage. This year’s competition featured two new categories, Freestyle and Showcase, which also allowed pupils to explore poetry outside the Classic anthology (including their own original work) and to perform solo, in pairs, or small groups. Entrants were judged on their voice, understanding, accuracy and performance style.

The competition took place in the Vanbrugh Library, with pupils reciting poems in front of an audience of their peers and our panel of judges: Mrs Dales, Mrs Hart and Mr Newsam. All three teachers were delighted with the quality of the entrants and enjoyed what was a great celebration of poetry. Mrs Dales noted that “the overall standard this year was excellent and extremely creative,” while Mrs Hart praised some individual recitals: “Emily and Imogen performed an amusing and entertaining ‘Race to get to sleep’, which many of us recognised from our own children's bedtime routines, while Anya's superb performance of her own very personal poem ‘Happy to be’ stands out for me.”  

Sixth Former Anya is Kimbolton’s current Poet Laureate, having won an in-school competition last year with her own poem Returning to Routine, about life after lockdown. Her Poetry by Heart entry, ‘Happy to be’ was inspired by discussions with other pupils about body image. She is currently studying A Levels in English Literature, Drama and History.

Congratulations to everyone who took part, and to all our winners and runners-up: Amelia, Anya, Camila, Emily, Georgie, Harry, Imogen, Lucy and Maisy. Video entries of their poetry recitals now go forward to the national round of the competition. Finalists in the Classic championship, plus selected participants in all other categories will be invited to perform at Shakespeare’s Globe, London, in the Summer term.