House Poetry

It was National Poetry Day on Thursday and Barrow Hills celebrated with our annual House Poetry competition. A recent survey of almost 5,000 children in England found that those who read, watch or listen to poetry identified huge benefits for their well being, confidence, aptitude for learning and empathy. So it’s official! Reading poetry is not only fun – it is good for you too!

Every year children all over the country celebrate National Poetry Day by writing their own poems. Poetry is a great way to express your thoughts and feelings on different subjects. Poetry can be funny, sad and moving or tell an exciting story – and it doesn’t have to rhyme!

This year the children at Barrow Hills wrote their own poems on the theme of Wonder. Then their class teachers had the very difficult task of choosing one finalist from each house and year group. It was so difficult to select just one child from each house.

We invited Mrs Campbell-John back to Barrow Hills to be our judge. As a keen writer of poetry herself, I thought she would be the perfect person to judge our competition – and she was! She gave lots of advice to aspiring poets and selected one winner from each year group. Her ‘stand out’ poem of the competition was written by Alby in Year 5.  Mrs Campbell-John loved the rhythm and structure of this poem, as well as the darkly humorous twist at the end!

Well done to all our finalists who wrote such fabulous poems and read these aloud so clearly. I would also like to thank our Drama Captain, Bertie, for compering this event so confidently.

Our finalists (winners in bold)

Year: 3
Kean: Sophie
McCormack: Indy
Murtough: Matthew

Year: 4
Kean: Orson
McCormack: George D
Murtough: Rafferty

Special mention: George W, William P and Hugo

Year: 5
Kean: Jasper
McCormack: Alby
Murtough: Chloe

Special mention:  Lottie and Bas, and Theo – who actually performed his poem as a song!  This is the first time anyone has ever done this so well done Theo.

Year: 6
Kean: Elodie
McCormack: Cassandra
Murtough: Scarlett

Special mention: Lachie, Leo, Georgia and Flo

Year: 7
Kean: Charlotte
McCormack: Mae
Murtough: Ben

Special mention:  Charlie, Freddie, Lydia and Luke

Year: 8
Kean: Elliott
McCormack: Charles
Murtough: Eddie

Special mention: Henry and Noah

Here is Alby’s fantastic poem – In the end…

What is at the end of a wormhole?
Could it be
A different universe towering tall
A giant butterfly chasing a ball
A boothouse
A jungle
An icecap or two
Maybe I could go there with you.

What’s at the end of the universe?
Could it be
A world of multiverses stretching wide
A giant ocean with a roaring tide
A baby
A basket
An uncle or two
Maybe I could go there with you

What’s at the end of life
Could it be
A peaceful living room with passed ones you loved
A meeting with angels sent from above
A heaven
A river
An oak tree or two
I really don’t want to go there with you

Well not yet

By Alby