To celebrate National Poetry Day earlier this month, we held a poetry competition centred around the theme ‘Play’ – and the response was incredible, with over 60 entries submitted by our creative and enthusiastic students.

We were delighted to see such a wide range of imaginative and thoughtful poems, each exploring the theme in unique and expressive ways. After much deliberation, our judges selected Matilda K.W as the overall winner. Her poem stood out for its originality, emotional depth, and playful spirit.

We’d like to congratulate Matilda and all our entrants for their fantastic contributions. Events like these highlight the power of poetry to inspire, connect, and celebrate student voice.

Matilda's poem:

I miss the days when I could dress up,

When I felt as if I could simply switch clothes,

And transform into someone else,

Be it a princess, a superhero or a spy,

Playing with my friends and family,

By my side.

 

I miss the days when me and my cousin,

Could pretend to be in a haunted house,

Or lost in space,

When a simple trinket became a thing of power,

Or how scarfs became intricate dresses,

Or how Play-Doh became delicious treats,

For tiny guests at a five-star restaurant.

 

I wish I could go back to those days,

I could play to my heart’s content,

And pretend to live in a fantasy world,

Where everything was better.