Poetry by Heart

The poet, Jean Sprackland, said, “Learn a poem by heart and it becomes part of you. Speak a poem aloud and you become part of its life in the world”.

Poetry By Heart is a national poetry competition for Years 10 to 13 now in its fourth year. On Tuesday the first round took place in school. Each participant chose two poems from a wide-ranging anthology, and recited them before an audience made up of supportive friends, English teachers and a clutch of Year 9s who clearly have the competition in their sights next year! The five participants recited poems by Edward Thomas, Rupert Brooke, Robert Burns, William Henley and Jacob Polley, to name a few. Their fantastic efforts can be viewed online. The winner and runner up will be announced in Assembly on Monday, however Mrs Davis would like to thank all five who took part – Sam Bryant, Hazel Brown-Balaam, Daniella Elman, Jamie Saul and Lia Schreiber – and also Rhiannon Humphreys who, although not a competitor herself, joined the five others, contributing some inspired reading of poems of her own choice. She said, “This is a venture that will grow and grow and these students will have certainly inspired more to participate next year. Woodbridge is a school where students are willing to take a risk, knowing that they will be encouraged and recognised for the efforts that they make.” Deputy Head, Miss Norman added, “Listening to poetry for half an hour was a wonderful indulgence.”