Latest Competitions

Christopher Tower Poetry Competition 2025

The prestigious 25th Christopher Tower Poetry Competition runs from December 2024 to February 2025, with students between 16-18 years of age challenged to write a poem on the theme ‘Roots’.  The competition is free to enter, and it is open to students who are educated in the UK. 

The competition is judged anonymously by two guest judges, who are different each year, and the Christopher Tower Student. Each year the theme is chosen with the intention of giving entrants free rein to interpret it as widely as they like.

The poet who writes the best single poem on the theme receives £5000. There will be a second prize of £3000, and a third prize of £1500. Along with these, there will be ten runners-up, who will each receive £500. The top three winners will also be offered a future place on the Tower Poetry Summer School.  The closing date is 20^th February 2025 and all information can be found here.

Chiltern Arts Poetry Competition

Chiltern Arts are inviting writers of all ages to create a poem inspired by the theme ‘journeys’. Your writing could be about a personal journey, a physical journey, or an imaginary journey: whatever the word means to you!

• All poems must relate to the theme of ‘journeys’
• Poems should be a maximum of 40 lines in length
• Poems may be in any form
• One entry per person
• Poems must be the original work of the entrant
• Poems must be unpublished
• The judges’ decision regarding winning and shortlisted poems is final

Winning and shortlisted poems will be published in our 2025 Poetry Collection. Winners also receive a high street shopping voucher. Click here to enter!

Poetry by Heart

Poetry by Heart is a national poetry speaking competition for schools and colleges in England. Taking part in Poetry By Heart is all about developing confidence with poetry in an enjoyable, accessible and engaging way that leads to its life-long enjoyment.  Check out this link for a list of the set poems and look out for an email from Mrs Seal with more details. 

Becky High Competition Winners!