Mount Kelly School pupils were treated to a celebration of poetry last week as part of National Poetry Day. 

English lessons across much of the school focussed on poetry as pupils in Year 4 to sixth form studied different forms of verse before reciting poems in class — some international pupils performing works in their original language — and writing their own, many of which were based on this year's theme — 'Remember'. 

The pupils' poems featured themes ranging from 1914 to Cornish holidays and favourite things to brothers, which were then hung on 'poetrees' at various locations across the school grounds.

Headmaster Mark Semmence welcomed the school's involvement. He said: 'Mount Kelly's celebration of National Poetry Day demonstrated how engaging poetry can be —particularly when inspired by a wide range of subjects and enjoyed in all kinds of settings.   A largely school-wide event like this — enjoyed across year groups from Year 4 through to the sixth form — has made what can sometimes be seen as an intimidating form of literature, accessible, meaningful — and perhaps most importantly, lots of fun!'

AS part of National Poetry Week, Whitchurch Primary School held a 'Poem in your Pocket' day on October 3. 

All the children (pictured left, right and below right) brought a poem to school and shared it with other children. 

Earlier in the week a poet, Phil Bowen, spent the day at school and helped the children with their poems. 

A group of Year 5 children also took part in a poetry competition at Tavistock College and in the town hall.

A TAVISTOCK poetry festival saw eleven local schools and the community come together to write and celebrate poetry — which proved a resounding success.

Poets Roselle Angwin, Vanessa Kisuule, Bob Liu-Devreux, Phil Bowen and Celia Warren worked in schools with children from 4 to 18 years. Much of the writing was centred on the theme of 'our local area'.

Vanessa Kisuule, from a group known as 'Slambassadors', worked with older students at the college.

The Poetry Slam, which was held at the end of the week, saw a team from each school perform an original piece of poetry. The trophy for first place was won by Tavistock Community Primary School (pictured right) with their poem about the 'area in which we live'.

The Key Stage 3 competition was won by Tavistock College students Emily Frost and Katie Gray.

The Saturday saw a vibrant event in the Tavistock Town Hall with every school performing their work and displays of poetry and photographs. The school winning the 'Build a Poem' competition, judged by a public vote, was St Peter's School.

CHILDREN at St Peter's School (pictured left) are celebrating after winning the vote in Tavistock Poetry Festival's build a poem competition.

Every child at the school, and its sister school St Rumon's,  took part in the event, which was open to every school in the area.

Children had to write a poem around the theme of Dartmoor and were given inspiration for their work by two poets Phil Bowen and Celia Warren, who came into both schools.

Their work was all taken to the town hall for a special exhibition and youngsters also took to the stage to perform some of their verses.

The build a poem competition was won by the Year 3 and 4 children, while the upper school children were second in the poetry slam contest, putting their verses to music.