Young poets at St Mary’s Catholic Primary School in Chippenham took centre stage to showcase their talent at the school’s annual Poetry Slam. Reciting verse entirely from memory, pupils impressed an audience of family, friends, and guest judges from St Augustine’s School in Trowbridge with their confidence and creativity.
Bringing Poetry to Life on Stage
The judging panel praised the creativity and confidence displayed by all participants, with special congratulations going to Evie and Gloria, who were named this year’s Poetry Slam winners. Their performances stood out for their originality and poise, earning them the top honour.
The event reflects St Mary’s commitment to nurturing a love of reading, writing, and language. Through its English curriculum, the school provides opportunities for children to write for different audiences and develop their own ideas, helping them grow as readers, writers, and storytellers.
A Proud Moment for One of This Year's Poetry Slam Winners
For the winners, taking the stage was a proud achievement. The event gave pupils the chance to celebrate creativity and discover the power of their own voices, a key part of the school’s ethos.
Lucy Buckland, headteacher at St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, said: “Our Poetry Slam is always a wonderful opportunity for children to share their creativity and see the impact their words can have. Watching pupils perform poems in front of an audience was a real joy, and we were incredibly proud of the imagination and effort they showed. At St Mary’s, we want every child to develop a love of language and feel confident expressing themselves. Events like this give pupils the chance to celebrate creativity and discover the power of their own voices.”
Celebrating Success at St Mary's Annual Poetry Slam
Helen Taylor, CEO of the Dunstan Catholic Educational Trust, added: “Congratulations to all the pupils who took part in St Mary’s Poetry Slam. It is wonderful to see children sharing their creativity and enjoying the power of words, and we are proud of the opportunities staff provide to help pupils develop their confidence and communication skills.”
The Poetry Slam is one of many initiatives at St Mary’s designed to foster a lifelong appreciation for literature and self-expression. By encouraging pupils to perform from memory, the school helps build public speaking skills and self-assurance, which will serve them well in future academic and personal endeavours.
Parents and staff alike expressed pride in the pupils’ achievements, noting that the event highlighted the school’s supportive and creative learning environment. The success of this year’s Poetry Slam underscores St Mary’s dedication to developing confident communicators and creative thinkers, and the school looks forward to continuing this tradition in the years to come.
