Foyle Young Poet of the Year 2019

Organised by The Poetry Society and aimed at writers aged 11 to 17, the challenge sees around 11,000 poems submitted each year from more than 6,000 young poets in 83 countries.

Judging this year’s entries are Raymond Antrobus (pictured), winner of this year’s Ted Hughes prize, and the Scots Makar, Jackie Kay. There will be 100 winners chosen with the top 15 being invited to attend a week’s residential creative writing course at an Arvon centre or receive a poet residency in their school (age dependent).

Every school that enters 25 or more students’ poems to the competition receives a £50 discount on The Poetry Society’s Poets in School service. The Poetry Society also selects a number of Applauded Schools – those which have shown a continuing commitment to Foyle – to receive free poet-led workshops and teacher training. The closing date for the competition is July 31 and schools can order a free pack of anthologies and resources.