We are delighted to share that Jaiya P. has won the prestigious David Laing CBE Young People Poetry Award!

The competition, which celebrates young talent and creative expression, encouraged writers to explore the theme of how love and life are connected, with the brief outlining: “What makes life fun, beautiful and sometimes a bit tricky, all through the lens of love — whether it’s love for your friends, family, yourself, nature, or the world around you.” As a Year 7 pupil who enjoys writing short stories and poetry, as well as creating artwork and playing the piano, Jaiya was inspired to craft a poem that captured the essence of this theme.

After being shortlisted for the award, Jaiya was invited to the ceremony, where she experienced a moment of suspense when her name was not called among the runners-up. However, her excitement and relief were evident when, shortly after, Jaiya was announced as the winner of the Young Poet Award!

Jaiya said: “Reading David Laings poetry and achieving this award, has inspired and pushed me to write more and express my feelings through poetry. I hope to write and publish my own book of poems one day and am working on this now.”

We are incredibly proud of Jaiya’s achievement!
Congratulations, Jaiya!