Last year eleven-year-old Oluwajomiloju from Carterhatch Junior School, Enfield won top prize in the national Shadowing Scheme that runs as part of the CLiPPA (CLPE Children’s Poetry Award). The Shadowing Scheme invites schools to study the poetry books on the shortlist with their pupils, who can then choose favourite poems, learn them by heart and perform them out loud.

Oluwajomiloju’s performance of Remember III from the collection these are the words by Nikita Gill impressed the judges so much that she won a place to perform it live onstage at the National Theatre on London’s South Bank at the award ceremony.

Head teacher Helen McGovern and assistant head Marian Switonski answer our questions about the CLiPPA and the impact it’s had on their school.

When did you first take part in the CLiPPA Shadowing?

Last year 2023 was our first year.

What do you like about participating?

Taking part in the CLiPPA gives us a focused time period to explore poets new to the children; for them to select poems they are attracted to; to understand that poems give insights to life and experiences, that they tell a story. It also helps them to develop their performance skills.  It was a wonderful opportunity too for our pupils to go the National Theatre, to know it exists in London and to encourage them to visit such places in the future.

What are the benefits of participation to your pupils and to staff?

It’s a way for them to be exposed to and encouraged to discover new writers. It gave them a real opportunity to understand the importance of poetry and, for some of them, to develop an interest and passion in poetry that will last for life.

Would you recommend taking part in the Shadowing to other teachers and schools? If so, why?

Yes, for all the reasons in our answers above.  The most important thing to bear in mind is that - given there are time deadlines - it has to be a priority in school.  The deadline for entry gives us a focus to make it happen!

What are your other tips for a teacher or school taking part for the first time?

Register early as communications from CLPE are good and you get regular reminders.  Attend the online announcement of the shortlist if you can.  Order the shortlisted books quickly and schedule times when you’ll be working with pupils. Work to the deadline for filming your entries.

Last year you had a Shadowing winner who took part in the award ceremony, performing alongside shortlisted poets onstage at the National Theatre. What was that like?

It was unexpected - a wonderful surprise!  The pupil couldn’t believe it either!  The whole experience was brilliant for Oluwajomiloju and the school.  It also gave the other entrants a chance to attend the award ceremony at the National Theatre. They were so proud of Oluwajomiloju (and cheered loudly when she was on stage!). 

Also, we held a special assembly when all the entrants performed their poems in front of the whole school.  We also made good use of taking part, celebrating through X and our website/newsletters.

What do your pupils like most about learning poetry by heart?

Engaging with the words and the meaning.  Selecting poems that speak to them, on topics they care about.  Using their performance skills and getting feedback to help them improve these.  They like watching their peers perform too.

Will you be taking part in this year’s CLiPPA Shadowing?

Yes!

The 2024 CLiPPA Shadowing Scheme is open now. Registration is free and the books are the shortlist are:

A Dinosaur at the Bus Stop by Kate Wakeling, illustrated by Eilidh Muldoon

My Heart is a Poem, various poets, various illustrators

Balam and Lluvia’s House by Julio Serrano Echeverria, illustrated by Tolanda Mosquera, translated by Lawrence Schimel

The Final Year by Matt Goodfellow, illustrated by Joe Todd-Stanton

And I Climbed And I Climbed by Stephen Lightbown, illustrated by Shih-Yu Lin

The CLiPPA is delivered in partnership with the Authors’ Licensing and Collecting Society (ALCS) and supported by Arts Council England.

See the shortisted titles below to buy, read what our expert reviewers had to say and download an extract.