Poetry Competition
See your poem in print with Lemon Jelly Press
The Society of Teachers of Speech and Drama is delighted to announce its Original Poetry Festival for budding young poets and performers, with entries closing on Tuesday September 15.
As teachers, we know that creative writing and Oracy go hand in hand in developing confident young performers. This exciting online festival gives students from around the world the opportunity to share their own original poetry through performance and be judged on their writing and performances - recorded online.
Entries will be judged on videos, celebrating both the quality of the writing and the effectiveness of the spoken presentation. Winning poems will be featured in the autumn edition of Word Matters, with plans underway for a professionally published poetry collection showcasing selected entries. Winners will also awarded poetry books by working poets such as Kate Williams, teacher/poet Jeni Law, and actor/professor Mike Venables.
Lemon Jelly Press will also include the winners and runner-up in their Autumn Poetry Anthology.
Entry Deadline: September 15th, 2026
Entry Fees:
• £5 per entry enter on Stripe
https://buy.stripe.com/3cI5kDg457cF5Myecp8k808
Age Categories:
Ages 8–10 - Ages 11 -14 - Ages 15–18
(September 15 will be used as the age qualification cut-off date for performers.)
We look forward to discovering and celebrating the next generation of young poetic voices. Go the STSD Hub to find out about the judges.
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Kate WIliams
Children's poet Kate Williams is one of our judges for the online Poetry Festival - deadline September 14th, 2026.
Students' Poetry Competition
From Pen to Performance
The Society of Teachers of Speech and Drama is delighted to announce its Original Poetry Festival for budding young poets and performers, with entries closing 15th September.
As teachers, we know that creative writing and Oracy go hand in hand in developing confident young performers. This exciting online festival gives students from around the world the opportunity to share their own original poetry through performance and be judge on their writing and performance - recorded on line.
Entries will be judged on videos, celebrating both the quality of the writing and the effectiveness of the spoken presentation. Winning poems will be featured in the Winter edition of Word Matters, with plans underway for a professionally published poetry collection showcasing selected entries. Winners will also awarded poetry books by working poets such as A.F. Harrold and others.
Entry Deadline: September 27th 2026
Entry Fees:
• STSD Members – £5 per entry
Age Categories:
Ages 8–10
Ages 11 -14
Ages 15–18
(September 1st will be used as the age qualification cut-off date for performers.)
We look forward to discovering and celebrating the next generation of young poetic voices. Go the STSD Hub to find out about the judges.
AF Harrolds biography goes like this: (1) Born in Sussex in 1975, did childhood things. Started writing poetry. (2) Went to university in Reading in the early 1990s, did student things. Continued writing poetry. (3) Got a job in a Blackwell's bookshop in the late 1990s, did work things. Started taking part in poetry slams. (4) Became a full-time poet when the bookshop was shut down in the early 2000s, did jobbing-poet things. Started winning (some) poetry slams. (5) Ran some poetry workshops in schools in the late 2000s, did more jobbing-poet things. Started writing poems and stories for kids. (6) First children's novel published by Bloomsbury in the early 2010s, did more of that stuff. Pottered and loafed. (7) Repeat stage (6).
The Best Poems will be published by LEMON JELLY Press
Enter the Competition Here
https://buy.stripe.com/3cI5kDg457cF5Myecp8k808
Payment link
Saturday October 3rd 2-5 pm. Speaker: George Coish
George Coish Head of Year and Oracy Lead Cleveland Rd Primary School. Organiser of a two year poetry project with the Eastside Educational Trust
STSD Annual General Meeting – Birmingham 2026
æeèThe Society for Teachers of Speech and Drama held its Annual General Meeting in Birmingham this February, bringing members together for a stimulating and varied programme of events. The day included practical workshops, engaging presentations, and lively, interactive drama sessions, reflecting the breadth and vitality of our profession. Members also received updates on the Society’s activities and finances over the past year. A key moment of the AGM was the announcement of our new Chair, Lynne Collinson, whom we warmly welcome to the role. Members thanked the outgoing Chair, Thérese Williams for her excellent work and dedication to the society.The event provided an excellent opportunity for members to connect, share ideas, and celebrate the continuing work of the Society.