The announcement followed a lively poetry competition that invited students from all year groups to share their original and imaginative poetry. The event celebrated the creative talent within our school community. 

In the final round, Judith and two other talented student presented poems on the theme of “Play.” Students participated enthusiastically in the voting process, discussing the poems during tutor time before casting their votes.

Reflecting on her new role, Judith shared,

“I am delighted to be the new Poet Laureate. Even more so, as other students voted for my poem as their favourite. I love writing and have always done it for fun, but now I have the opportunity to write for a purpose and for amazing events like Remembrance Day.”

The introduction of the Poetry Champion role highlights the school’s commitment to nurturing a vibrant literary culture.  

Congratulations to Judith on this well-deserved achievement! We look forward to seeing the creativity and inspiration she will bring as Poetry Laureate throughout the coming year.

 

Judith’s Poem:

Play

Change is a powerful thing,

More powerful than it seems.

Strange is the thick of time as it takes away the dreams, 

Of sandboxes and hopscotch, dolls and lullabies. 

The set of swings that made me feel like I could fly, 

Could I go back to before my naivety? 

Was it stolen by teenage epiphany? 

Or is there no remedy for teenage memory?

 

In the sun I played,

In the rain I played.

In the cold with a hat and coat, I stayed.

With the friends I made along the way,

Park adventures in early May.

I wish I would’ve known it was the last time

That i would hear those nursery rhymes.

What was once my childhood is now my desire,

The set of swings won’t take me higher.

How I miss the simpler times, the pleasantry, 

But alas, there is no remedy for fading memory. 

 

Savour your life, you only have one.

Your childhood may be over, but your life has begun.

Nothing gold ever stays, it often turns to rust,

The memories of the playground crumbling to dust.

If you were to go back some day,

You’d see how things have really changed.

So hold on to what you can, never set it free, 

At the end of the day, there’s no remedy, just time for making new memories.