Premier League Writing Stars Poetry Competition

Welcome to the Premier League Writing Stars competition 2018

This year's competition is now closed. Thank you to all those who entered. We thoroughly enjoyed reading every poem!

We are pleased to announce that the regional and national winners are as follows:

Class 1, Deeping St James C.P. School, East of England, KS1
Evie, Ipswich High School, East of England, KS2
Charlie, St Thomas Catholic Voluntary Academy, East Midlands, KS1
Trafford, Barwell Church of England Academy, East Midlands, KS2
Adam, Oliver Goldsmith Primary School, London, KS1
Ava, Thomas's Clapham, London, KS2
Class, Harton Primary School, North East, KS1
Ella, Hunwick Primary School, North East, KS2
Nabila, Lary, Jacob, Amy, Benyamin, Thomas, Khadija, St Finbar's Catholic Primary School, North West, KS1 - national winner
Ethan, Overton St Helen's Church of England Primary School, North West, KS2
Ava, Springfield Infant School and Nursery, South East, KS1
Ben, Parkside School, South East, KS2
Zach, Yealmpstone Farm Primary School, South West, KS1
Emily, Ramsbury Primary School, South West, KS2
Katie, Shirenewton Primary School, Wales, KS1
Sam, Fairfield, Wales, KS2
Cara, Ysgol Y Berllan Deg, Welsh language, KS2
Issac, Outwoods Primary School, West Midlands, KS1
Maariya, Heathfield Primary School, West Midlands, KS2 - national winner
Macie, All Saints CE Federation, Yorkshire & The Humber, KS1
Kitty, Otley All Saints CE Primary, Yorkshire and the Humber, KS2

The judges also selected a number of highly commended entries:

Cassie, Eben, Lily, Noah, Olivia, Sadie, Rhys, Raunds Park Infant School, East Midlands, KS1
Cohen, Hollygirt School, East Midlands, KS1
Henri, Westfield School, East of England, KS1
Olivia, Edward Francis Primary School, East of England, KS2
Minudi, St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, London, KS1
Leelou, North Harringay Primary School, London, KS2
Iman, Hounslow Town Primary School, London, KS2
Kamilah, Oliver Goldsmith Primary School, London, KS2
Layla, Green Gates Primary School, North East, KS1
Thomas & Seb, St Oswald’s Catholic Primary School, North West, KS2
Sophia, Stockton Heath Primary School, North West, KS1
Lucas, Park Primary School, North West, KS2
Jack, Long Close School, South East, KS1
Kasper, Holy Trinity CE (A) School, South East, KS2
Chloe, Watermore Primary School, South West, KS1
Amelia, St Leonard's CE Primary School, West Midlands, KS2
Thomas, Dore Primary School, Yorkshire and the Humber, KS2
Amelia, Upperwood Academy, Yorkshire and the Humber, KS2

This year we wanted your pupils to write poems based on the theme of diversity, using inspiration from the poem written specially for Premier League Writing Stars, Beautifully different, Wonderfully the same by Joseph Coelho. The poem and subject encourage us to think of ways to celebrate similarities and differences that bring us together, and these are themes that ran through this programme.

Key information

• The competition was open from Tuesday 9 October 2018 until the end of the autumn term – Friday 21 December 2018.
• Poems will be judged in two age categories – one for pupils in Key Stage 1 and one for those in Key Stage 2 – and two language categories – English and Welsh.
• Individual or group entries were allowed for Key Stage 1, only individual entries for Key Stage 2.
• Poems entered could be no more than 20 lines or 150 words and should be on the theme of diversity.
• Pupils could continue the Beautifully different, Wonderfully the same poem or start a new poem. Poems could be of any structure and didn’t have to rhyme.
• As part of the resource packs, we included poem entry activity sheets which pupils must use for their final poem entries.
• Teachers need to be registered for Premier League Primary Stars to have entered their pupils’ work for the competition.
• In March 2019, we'll be in touch with all schools that have entered to let them know if they are one of the winners.

 

Download a copy of the poster here.

Download a Welsh language copy of the poster here.

The judging panel includes former Premier League footballer Rio Ferdinand, singer and songwriter Olly Murs, Waterstone’s Children’s Laureate Lauren Child, poet Joseph Coelho. Casia Wiliam, current Bardd Plant Cymru (Welsh-language Children’s Poet Laureate) will guest judge all Welsh-language entries. All judging will be overseen by National Literacy Trust Director Jonathan Douglas.

Watch the video below to hear the poem read aloud by an all-star cast!

Prizes

There will be a top overall prize and 10 prizes for each category (Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2) in each area. There will also be prizes for the best entries in the Welsh language at Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2.

Prizes for overall winners:

• A Premier League Trophy visit to your school
• A visit to your school by a children’s author or poet to lead a poetry workshop
• Winning poems read aloud by one of our star judges

Prizes for regional and Welsh winners and overall winners:

• Poems published in an official Premier League Writing Stars book with bespoke illustrations
• An invitation to a national celebration event and the chance to meet other poets and special guests
• A framed version of the winning poems
• Poetry book bags for all winners’ schools

There are also some brilliant bags full to the brim with poetry books for the first 1000 schools who submitted entries!

Judging criteria

The judges will be looking for the following:

• Vocabulary that is relevant to the theme of diversity
• An appropriate tone
• Poetry – figurative speech and devices to build a picture in the reader’s mind in a creative and effective way. For example, alliteration, simile, metaphor, hyperbole, personification, symbolism.
• Elements of poetry – words chosen for effect, a sense of structure, clever use of rhythm, purposeful use of rhyme, (although not all poems have to rhyme).
• Effect – does the poem celebrate diversity? Do you understand what is important about diversity having read this?
• Originality – does this entry stand out from the rest? Is it original and unique?
• Appeal – will it appeal to other primary-age pupils?

We will judge poems on their creative merits. Primary age children develop their skills in writing, spelling and punctuation as they go through school and poems will not be disqualified for errors in handwriting, spelling or punctuation. However, we would encourage all entrants to proof read their poem carefully and send us their best copy.

Supporting resources and activity ideas

We created some competition packs developed in partnership with the National Literacy Trust with just the right amount of useful resources, including lesson ideas, poem entry activity sheets, and inspirational videos. 

Download what you need and get your pupils writing! You need to register to access all the resources - it's free and really quick to do.

• Key Stage 1 Writing Stars resource pack
• Key Stage 2 Writing Stars resource pack

Welsh language versions of these packs are also available below:

• Premier League Writing Stars 2018: Cystadleuaeth Farddoniaeth Amrywiaeth Foundation
• Premier League Writing Stars 2018: Cystadleuaeth Farddoniaeth Amrywiaeth KS2

You might also be interested in our other English poetry packs – have a look at our Key Stage 1 resource Matchday Magic and our Premier League Reading Stars resource, Poetry Slam, for pupils in upper Key Stage 2. There is also a Key Stage 2 PSHE pack all about Diversity.

Full terms and conditions are available.