A West Bromwich student has been named Young Poet Laureate for the Midlands following a national competition run by the National Literacy Trust and the National Poetry Centre.
Jessica, a student at West Bromwich Collegiate Academy, was selected after progressing through a highly competitive process that attracted more than 1,100 entries from schools across the UK. She was among 120 poets shortlisted nationally, with only a small number selected within her category before the final appointments were confirmed.
Her poem ‘Finding Shadows’ was performed at a development masterclass held at the Library of Birmingham, where shortlisted writers from across the Midlands took part in workshops led by professional poets and programme representatives. The event formed part of the wider Young Poet Laureate initiative, which engages young writers from a national cohort of more than 130,000 students in over 1,000 schools.
Jessica’s work will also be published in an upcoming anthology produced by the National Literacy Trust. Judges and facilitators praised the clarity and maturity of her writing during the selection process.
Hannah Percival, Associate Principal at West Bromwich Collegiate Academy, said: “As a school, we are very proud of what Jessica has accomplished. Her achievement demonstrates the value of giving students access to national programmes like this. Poetry develops confidence with language, encourages independent thinking and allows young people to express ideas they might not otherwise find space for in the classroom. Those skills go far beyond English lessons and support how students learn across the curriculum.”
The Young Poet Laureate programme, created by the National Poetry Centre in partnership with the National Literacy Trust and supported by Poet Laureate Simon Armitage, aims to celebrate young writers and promote poetry as a creative form of expression. It also seeks to support literacy development, confidence and creativity among children and young people aged 7 to 14.
The National Literacy Trust is an independent charity working across the UK to improve literacy levels, particularly in areas facing significant educational challenges. It works with schools and communities to support children and young people in developing essential reading and writing skills.
West Bromwich Collegiate Academy said it was delighted to celebrate Jessica’s success and remains committed to providing opportunities that broaden students’ experiences, strengthen literacy and encourage creative ambition beyond the classroom.
Finding Shadows
I leant to look for shadows
Not where the light is loud
But where it softens
And learns to listen.
They hide under chairs of memories
Behind a spine of a book,
In the pause between two breaths
I almost didn’t take.
A shadow is not the dark-
It’s proof of light nearby,
A quiet signature saying
Someone stood here once.
I find them stretching at dusk,
Longer than fear, thinner than doubt
Teaching me that absence
Still has a shape.
And when I gather them gently,
They point me back to the sun
Without ever asking me
To stop being human.
