Poetry By Heart is a free-to-enter UK competition for pupils in Key Stages 2–5, designed to boost confidence and deepen engagement with poetry. Schools and colleges register for free, then pupils choose poems from curated anthologies (e.g. timeline collections, themed showcases) to learn by heart and perform aloud.

How teachers can get involved

• Register your school or college via the Poetry By Heart website.
• Access free resources: competition guides, memorisation tips, videos of past finalists, and teaching support materials.
• Run internal heats or poetry clubs, encouraging students to prepare for the school or regional rounds.
• Where possible, accompany or enter finalists to the Grand Finale, held on stage at Shakespeare’s Globe in London.

How pupils can take part

• Browse the available collections and choose one or two poems to commit to memory.
• Practice reciting your poem aloud, focusing on clarity, expression, and confidence.
• Perform in a class, school event or internal competition to select finalists.
• Enter the national contest—either via the Freestyle (1 poem) or Classic (2 poems) route.
• Finalists may be invited to perform in London, with guest tickets offered to participating schools.

For further information about this exciting competition, please visit:
https://poetrybyheart.org.uk/