CLPE, the National Poetry Centre for Primary Schools, has announced that award-winning poet and chair of this year’s CLiPPA judges, Liz Berry will host a live online event to announce the shortlist for this year’s CLiPPA (Centre for Literacy in Primary Education Poetry Award). All schools in the UK are invited to attend the event which will take place at 2.15pm on Wednesday 8 May.

The virtual event will be beamed live into primary school classrooms to start this year’s CLiPPA celebrations. Shortlisted poets will participate in the event performing poems from their collections.

The CLiPPA is the UK’s leading award for published poetry for children and past winners include Carol Ann Duffy, John Agard, Jackie Kay, Joseph Coelho and recently Michael Rosen and Valerie Bloom.

Guests at the special virtual event will include shortlisted poets who will perform poems from their collections.

To receive their invitation, all schools need to do is to register for this year’s CLiPPA Shadowing Scheme.

As the National Poetry Centre for Primary Schools, CLPE works to embed poetry fully both in classrooms and in children's reading for pleasure choices. The unique CLiPPA Shadowing Scheme enables schools to explore the shortlist with their pupils, looking at the poems in depth and creating live performances of individual favourites. CLPE provide specially created support materials for teachers, including videos of the shortlisted poets. The resources are supplied free to schools when they register to take part. Each year the Shadowing Scheme prompts poetry performances in hundreds of classrooms.

Rebecca Eaves, Chief Executive, CLPE said, “We estimate that 40,000 children will take part in the CLiPPA Shadowing this year and are delighted that it is a key moment in the school calendar for so many teachers. Liz and her fellow judges have selected another very strong shortlist and we can’t wait for the Shadowing to open.”

The winner of the 2024 CLiPPA will be announced at the CLiPPA Poetry Show, live onstage at the National Theatre, Friday 12 July. Shadowing schools will be invited to attend this special in-person event, with the Shadowing Scheme winners performing onstage alongside the shortlisted poets.

Schools can sign up to register their interest in the CLiPPA Shadowing Scheme here.

Press and VIPS, please sign up here.