An invitation to
all young poets

150 Years Banner

To mark the 150th anniversary of State Education and to find out what school means to you we are holding a poetry competition.

City Of London
Chartered College Of Teaching
Poetry Competition
Winners

We also want to say a big thanks to all those that took part in our poerty competition …

You did amazing

Pen
Category One: Primary – Winner

Henry Lister
Poem: Future School


I was walking into future school,
When I spotted something super cool,
T’was a robot that I could see,
That had many buttons on its knee,
It had secret gadgets everywhere,
Even in its fake, black hair!
I was walking into future school,
When I spotted something super cool,
It was a very big hologram,
Of a teacher called Mr Sam,
He could move, listen and talk,
Even though he was from York.
I was walking into future school,
When I spotted something super cool,
It was a humungous, towering skyscraper,
And my classroom looked like it was made of paper,
It was on the 100th floor,
With the dark blue, wonky door.
That was my first journey to future school.

Category One: Primary – Runner Up

Sana Mahmood
Poem: Work hard, dream big and never give up


Come to Mill Hill it’s the place to be,
Self-confidence is the key.
You’ll never feel alone,
You’ll discover something you haven’t known.
You’ll always be yourself no matter what people say,
You’ll have some time to play,
No-one can change you, so just be yourself!
Although they’re not your parents,
They care for you each day.
They help you as you struggle,
Praise your accomplishments in every way.
No, they’re not your parents,
But their role is just as strong,
On your graduation day all stand and cheer to
honour you,
For all the work you’ve done!
Be yourself,
One day you will inspire others to learn,
Don’t worry about your looks just worry about
your health.
Try your best, don’t give up,
No matter what others say.
Someday you’ll shine as bright as the sun,
If you work hard, dream big and never give up!

Category Two: Secondary – Winner

Maxi Pitton
Poem: “The right of Education”


School for my peers and I, is a safe place
We can express ourselves and be given space
The football pitch is a place we love to go
The playground is where we let the conversation flow
The classroom we learn, we converse, we discover
Our favourite subjects we like to assist each other
Everyone should have the right to an education
Otherwise the world remains in a place of stagnation
I look forward to the time when we can say as a nation
That every child in the entire world is entitled to an education

Category Two: Secondary – Runner Up

Claudia Wright
Poem: Knowledge is…


Knowledge is like a chocolate bar, I take a nibble.
School is a sweet shop, where I try new flavours.
Delicious.
There are so many to choose from.
Because I have five periods in the day, not one
(Otherwise school would be way shorter)
Knowledge is like music, I sing a new note everyday
School is an orchestra, teachers conducting.
Rhythm.
There are so many instruments
I find it hard to hear sometimes
(But sometimes I’m not listening).
Knowledge is like a good meal, I devour it
School is a farm growing crops to eat.
Nutritious.
There are so many fields of veggies
I love our yummy dinners
(But sometimes I slip bits to the dog).
Knowledge is like toys and I love to play
School is a toy factory where they make the fun
Joyful.
There are so many games

Category Three: Post 16 - Winner

Anica Tahsin
Poem: Hikari


Frustration. Hard-work. Procrastination. Growth.
Explanation. Understanding. Acceptance.
Education has made me who I am,
And will form the future me. But
I hate explaining the same people that I
deserve that right.
Having to hear that I am lucky,
Privileged,
A coloured, girl
getting a free education
So many dream to have.
I am lucky
That I am not sweeping chimneys,
Or someones wife.
Nor do I have her ‘haunted eyes’.
I am lucky
That I can build on my weaknesses
To show others I can fight.
I am lucky
but I am not happy.
There is still more to be done.
More to be fixed.
More people like you and me who deserve this. So,
what is education to me?
Education is the continuous struggle to reform, love and grow,
As a nation, as a community, as individuals,
Because if we stop moving, we won’t be – the world will freeze over
hells gate will open
the harpies will screech.
We’ll be trapped in a cycle of hatred.
Education is drop of liquid light.

Category Three: Post 16 - Runner Up

Jaria Mizra
Poem: Pursuit.EDU


My wisdom relies on a search engine
Which fails to answer but says,
The process of receiving or giving
Systematic instructions
Whoever would have guessed,
Analysing dead author’s texts, was systematic?
Whoever would have thought,
Art would be neglected
Since it wasn’t an instruction?
To wipe away my disquietude,
Mother said,
It was making an animal
Human.
Whoever would have seen the notion,
Of us being superior
Because we ‘understood’
Yet, had hands, red with blood
As we wiped the existences of an ecosystem?
Father didn’t understand why I was disturbed,
Thus he said
It was the red bit inside a horse’s egg,
And for some wild reason my heart was silenced.
I shun them out,
For solely to me,
Education is answering the question,
Whom am I?
So I commend you
On the pursuit of finding
What it means to you
Because for once
There is no mark scheme.

Congratulations
We Want
  • Celebrate – What school means to you
  • Reflect – How you think schools should be
  • Envision – What you think about the future of
    education

Send your entry by entering your details opposite.
Inspire us with 150 words and win one of the prizes on offer.

Arrow
Pen

Please complete your details and return to us by clicking on the link below – closing date for entries – 1800 on 22nd October 2021

Good Luck
Meetthejudges

Entries for the poetry competition are now closed!

Days
Hours
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FAQ’s for teachers

Who are we?

The Foundation for Education Development (FED) is dedicated to promoting a long-term vision and plan for education in England. In the spirit of partnership, we provide an independent and neutral space for policy influencers from education, business, politics and beyond to shape the future. For more information go to www.fed.education.

 

Celebrating 150 years of State Education
The past year has marked the 150th Anniversary of the 1870 Education Act which created the foundations of state education in England. At the FED we believe it is important that the country recognises and celebrates this anniversary. It is an opportunity to be ‘Looking Back and Moving Forward’. We are determined to highlight the role that all of those concerned with the education of future generations have played and still play. We believe it is so important that society recognises – especially in relation to the past year – the contribution of teachers, education leaders, support staff and the young people themselves in our communities across the country.

 

A time to Celebrate, Reflect and Envision.

About the Poetry Competition

We are working with The Chartered College of Teaching and the City of London to celebrate the 150th Anniversary and are asking for poems of up to 150 words. The competition is open to all age groups with a winner and runners up in each category*.

(*Age Categories are envisaged as: Primary School, Secondary School, Post 16)

What should the poets write about?

We want young poets to write a poem of up to 150 words:

 

  1. Celebrate – What school means to you
  2. Reflect – How you think schools should be
  3. Envision – What you think about the future of education

 

  • Tell us how you see the future for education in this country.
  • What already works well?
  • What does school mean to me? is it a place to learn, a place for friends, somewhere to make memories, to be inspired, or a place of boredom and of rules.
  • What is important for future generations?
  • What role can teachers play?
  • How do we all inspire a love of learning?
Are there prizes?
  • YES – each winner will receive a £50 book token. Each Runner up will receive a £25 book token
  • Bookpack for the school library of each winner/runner-up
  • Winners poems will be published
  • Our judges will include established Poets.  Each winning school will receive a half-day visit from a poet
  • The winners and runners up will be invited to a prestigious evening reception* at the Guildhall in The City of London on 23rd November 2021 (1800 – 2000) where the prizes will be presented. The winners will have the opportunity to read their poems to the audience.
    (*appropriate guardians, parents, carers, teachers will be invited to accompany the prize-winners.)
  • A range of further prizes and Commendations will be confirmed.
Submitting an entry?
  • All entries must be sent digitally by completing the entry form and filling out the details required.
  • Entries must be received by 1800 on Friday 22nd October 2021
  • We will inform the named teacher of prize-winners by the email address submitted by 1800 on Friday 5th November
  • If you are able, please tag your entry on Twitter with @FED_150 #FED150poetry

Terms & Conditions

  1. The competition is only open to [i.e. students in full time education, resident in England, aged between 8 to 15 years on xx/xx/2021].
  2. Employees of the Promoter, their families, agents, and anyone else professionally connected with the competition are excluded.
  3. The competition will run from 00:00 on xxst XXXember 2021 and 23:59 on xxth XXXember 2021. All entries received after the competition closing
  4. Entrants must submit a poem of no less than xx words and no more than xx words on the subject of xxxx [detailed instructions to be added].
  5. Entries must be submitted online at [email protected] between the open and close dates. Entries by any other means will be deemed ineligible.
  6. All successfully submitted entries will be assessed by a panel of FED representatives and the poem that is judged to be the best according to the competition guidelines will be regarded as the winner. There will be further prizes awarded for the runner-up and first runner up respectively.
  7. An independent adjudicator will validate the competition entries after assessment by the Promotor.
  8. Judging will take place on xxth XXXember 2021.The winners will be notified by telephone or by email, using contact details submitted on their competition entry, within 3 days of winner selection. The Promoter has the right to validate all prize claims and reject any claims not meeting all the terms and conditions herein.
  9. The winners will be notified by telephone or by email, using contact details submitted on their competition entry, within 3 days of winner selection. The Promoter has the right to validate all prize claims and reject any claims not meeting all the terms and conditions herein.
  10. Entrants are required to provide up to date contact details along with their submission. The Promoter cannot be held responsible for inaccuracy or omissions made during the entry process.
  11. The Prizes are as follows:
    1. 1st Prize £100 Amazon Book Voucher
    2. 2nd Prize £50 Amazon Book Voucher
    3. 3rd Prize £25 Amazon Book Voucher
  12. Prizes will be awarded as [full and exact details, i.e. online gift voucher redeemable at amazon.co.uk etc.). How will they be delivered (i.e. sent in the post or by email).
  13. All prizes are as stated, non-negotiable and non-transferrable.
  14. The Amazon voucher will be provided as a digital eCode which may be redeemed online when purchasing goods through a registered Amazon online account. For clarity, the FED nor the Promoter has any direct association with Amazon, nor any affiliated companies and is neither a supporter nor promotor of the company or associated companies.
  15. By taking part in the competition, you agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of the competition.
  16. The Promoter will use any data submitted by entrants only for the purposes of running the competition, unless otherwise stated in the entry details and terms & conditions. By entering this competition, all entrants consent to the use of their personal data by the Promoter for the purposes of the administration of this competition and any other purposes to which the entrant has consented
  17. Responsibility is not accepted for entries lost or delayed as a result of any computer hardware or software failure of any kind.
  18. The Promoter does not warrant that use of or access to the FED website or accompanying lading pages and social media channels will be uninterrupted by error or virus free nor shall it or its licensors have any liability for damage caused by hostile software which may affect or infect your computer equipment or property as a result of browsing on the site, landing pages or social media channels.
  19. No entries from agents, third parties, organised groups, those automatically generated by computer or those not submitted in accordance with the entry instructions will be accepted.
  20. The Promoter’s decision is final in all competition matters and no correspondence will be entered into.
  21. The Promoter reserves the right to verify any entrant, to include but not limited to name, address, and place of education.
  22. Any tax liability arising from the award of the prize will be the responsibility of the recipient.
  23. The winner’s details (first name and place of education only) will be available by sending a self-addressed and stamped envelope to:‘FED Poetry Competition 2021’ The Foundation for Education Development c/o Strategi Solutions The Hub 3, Evolution Hooters Hall Road Lymedale West Newcastle-under-Lyme Staffordshire ST5 9QF stating the competition that was entered and requesting the list of competition winners in writing.
  24. Promoter: The Foundation for Education Development, The Glades Festival Way, Festival Park, Stoke-On-Trent, Staffordshire, United Kingdom ST1 5SQ. A Community Interest Company (CIC) Registered in England number 12193966.
  1. The competition is only open to all students in full time education, resident in England, aged between 4 to 18 years on 22/10/2021.
  2. Employees of the Promoter, their families, agents, and anyone else professionally connected with the competition are excluded.
  3. The competition will run from 00:00 on Friday 17th September 2021 and Friday 18:00 on 22nd October 2021. All entries received after the competition closing date will be deemed null and void.
  4. Entrants must submit a poem of no more than 150 words which celebrates 150 years of state education.
  5. Entries must be submitted online at [email protected] or via the form on this page between the open and close dates. Entries by any other means will be deemed ineligible.
  6. All successfully submitted entries will be assessed by a panel including established poets organised by FED and the poem that is judged to be the best in each category according to the competition guidelines will be regarded as the winner. There will be further prizes awarded for the runner-up in each category.
  7. An independent adjudicator will validate the competition entries after assessment by the Promotor.
  8. Judging will take place during week commencing Monday 1st November 2021.The winners via their nominated teacher/ school will be notified by telephone or by email, using contact details submitted on their competition entry, within 5 days of winner selection. The Promoter has the right to validate all prize claims and reject any claims not meeting all the terms and conditions herein.
  9. Entrants are required to provide up to date contact details as outlined along with their submission. The Promoter cannot be held responsible for inaccuracy or omissions made during the entry process.
  10. The Prizes are as follows:
    • 1st Prize in each category £50 Book Voucher
    • 2nd Runner up in each category £25 Book Voucher
    • 3rd There will be additional prizes for the school/college of each winner
  11. Prizes will be awarded as online gift voucher redeemable at amazon.co.uk.
  12. All prizes are as stated, non-negotiable and non-transferrable.
  13. The voucher will be provided as a digital Amazon eCode which may be redeemed online when purchasing goods through a online account. For clarity, the FED nor the Promoter has any direct association with any affiliated companies and is neither a supporter nor promotor of the company or associated companies.
  14. By taking part in the competition, you agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of the competition.
  15. The Promoter will use any data submitted by entrants only for the purposes of running the competition, unless otherwise stated in the entry details and terms & conditions. By entering this competition, all entrants consent to the use of their personal data by the Promoter for the purposes of the administration of this competition and any other purposes to which the entrant has consented
  16. Responsibility is not accepted for entries lost or delayed as a result of any computer hardware or software failure of any kind.
  17. The Promoter does not warrant that use of or access to the FED website or accompanying lading pages and social media channels will be uninterrupted by error or virus free nor shall it or its licensors have any liability for damage caused by hostile software which may affect or infect your computer equipment or property as a result of browsing on the site, landing pages or social media channels.
  18. No entries from agents, third parties, organised groups, those automatically generated by computer or those not submitted in accordance with the entry instructions will be accepted.
  19. The Promoter’s decision is final in all competition matters and no correspondence will be entered into.
  20. The Promoter reserves the right to verify any entrant, to include but not limited to name, address, and place of education.
  21. Any tax liability arising from the award of the prize will be the responsibility of the recipient.
  22. The winner’s details (first name and place of education only) will be available by sending a self-addressed and stamped envelope to:‘ The Foundation for Education Development c/o Strategi Solutions The Hub 3, Evolution Hooters Hall Road Lymedale West Newcastle-under-Lyme Staffordshire ST5 9QF stating the competition that was entered and requesting the list of competition winners in writing.
  23. Promoter: The Foundation for Education Development, The Glades Festival Way, Festival Park, Stoke-On-Trent, Staffordshire, United Kingdom ST1 5SQ. A Community Interest Company (CIC) Registered in England number 12193966.

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