Poetry by Heart

Catherine Reeve and Maya Engledow represented Springwood High School in the county final of Poetry by Heart competition. Poetry by Heart is a national poetry recitation competition for students in schools and colleges. Launched by Sir Andrew Motion in December 2012 as an initiative of the Poetry Archive (www.poetryarchive.org), it is now in its second year.

Schools and colleges all over Norfolk have held Poetry by Heart contests for students aged 14-18 and on the 21st of January the winners, including our students : Catherine Reeve and Maya Engledow, gathered at Norwich Arts Centre to compete for a place at the regional and national finals at the National Portrait Gallery.

Norfolk students recited their poems including a third poem from a specially commissioned online anthology of poetry about the First World War. Both Catherine and Maya showed no fear in choosing poems and surprised the judges with the ambition of their choices.Maya Engledow impressed the judges and won the County final .As a winner, Maya was invited to compete at the Winners’ Weekend at the National Portrait Gallery, London.