We invited students to write a poem based on this year's competition theme, 'Magical Moments'.

Our Poetry Competition is a brilliant opportunity for young writers to compete internationally and showcase their talent. This year's competition theme was 'Magical Moments'. The competition was open to all COBIS schools, including Applicant schools.

We received 296 entries from 149 schools worldwide. Well done to all students who entered and congratulations to our competition winners!  

Key Stage 1-2 Winner and Runner-up

Winner: Lorenzo Tonetti, aged 10, The British School of Milan
"A brilliantly realised poem with some wonderful use of language "It's like with the slightest, barely-there touch, a bead of blood seeps out of your finger". An original and surprising piece."

Runner-up: Miranda Zhang, aged 10, Wellington College International Tianjin
"A lovely conceit of describing a simple moment of standing on your hands. The change in perspective works really well and I enjoyed the quatrains and the subtle use of rhyme. An inventive and well thought out piece."

Key Stage 3 Winner and Runner-up

Winner: Naureen Binil Rahman, aged 12, GEMS Founders School
"A touching and emotive piece honestly told about sibling love, a great interpretation of the theme that is a joy to read. "And even though, even though,/Every mess of hers is one more I have to clean,/Even though every one of her mistakes is always blamed on me,/Even though sacrifices must be made and plans moved around,/I find it is worth it." 

Runner-up: Sara Essa, aged 12, GEMS Royal Dubai School
"A lovely idea behind this poem of describing those magical moments that we may never glimpse "Like whispers hiding in a tree.". The rhyming couplets work well at giving this poem a lovely pace."

Key Stage 4-5 Winner and Runner-up

Winner: Annabel Liebat, aged 14, Halcyon London International School
"A moment of recognition and acceptance simply and beautifully told with clear strong and relatable images. Touching on race and the experience of being othered but also of acceptance and how a simple moment can help one feel settled."

Runner-up: Clara Rogers, aged 15, Riverside International School
"A gorgeously realised moment as the narrator looks up to see the smile of a neighbour. Beautifully realised with wonderful language "Her smiles are like crisp envelopes... I worry that one day I'll stop receiving mail.""

A certificate and prize has been awarded to the winner and runner-up of each category.

Winner: £75 Amazon voucher     
Runner-up: £25 Amazon voucher

Judging

The competition judges scored the entries according to the following criteria:

• Interpretation and clarity of the theme, 'Magical Moments', to the reader.

• Creativity/style and originality.
• Structure and form.
• Language and imagery.
• Overall impression of the poem.
   

The competition entries were judged by a panel of teachers and literature professionals. The highest scored entries in each category were submitted to our guest judge, Joseph Coelho OBE, for the final selection.