Stars team up to judge Premier League Writing Stars!

The Premier League Writing Stars poetry competition is back for its second year and aims to inspire children aged between 5 and 11 to get creative and write their own poem on the theme of diversity. Stars from the worlds of football, entertainment and literature have teamed up to judge this year’s competition!

The judging panel includes former Premier League footballer Rio Ferdinand, singer and songwriter Olly Murs, Waterstone’s Children’s Laureate Lauren Child, and 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.

Former Premier League footballer, Rio Ferdinand, said: “I’ve shared a dressing room and a pitch with people from different countries, cultures and backgrounds. Football has an amazing ability to unite us, as players, as fans and as people. As a parent with an interest in poetry, I think Writing Stars can inspire children to openly discuss and celebrate their differences and similarities both at home and in the classroom.”

Waterstones Children’s Laureate, Lauren Child, said: “Poetry gives children a creative way to express themselves and have the freedom to talk about personal and moving subjects in an unrestricted way. I am already looking forward to reading what this year’s young poets write.”

To inspire children taking part in the competition, poet Joseph Coelho has written a brand new poem called Beautifully different, wonderfully the same.

Overall winners and 9 regional winners and English and Welsh language winners from Wales will be selected from across both Key Stages 1 (ages 5 to 7) and Key Stage 2 (ages 7 to 11).

The winning poems will be published in a special limited-edition book. Other prizes include author-led writing workshops and Premier League Trophy visits to winning schools. The first 1,000 primary schools to enter will receive a poetry book bag containing an array of brilliant titles to spark pupils’ imaginations.