Sign up for the LIVE online announcement of the CLiPPA shortlist 2023
CLPE, the National Poetry Centre for Primary Schools, is delighted to announce that for the first time in its 20-year history, the shortlist for the CLiPPA (Centre for Literacy in Primary Education Poetry Award) will be announced live at a virtual event to which all schools in the UK are invited. The date is Wednesday 3 May and the time 2.00pm. To receive their invitation, all schools need to do is to register for this year’s CLiPPA Shadowing Scheme.
Former Children’s Laureate and poetry anthologist Chris Riddell, chair of this year’s CLiPPA judges, will host the event and it will include poetry performances from all the shortlisted poets.
The CLiPPA is the UK’s leading award for published poetry for children and past winners include Carol Ann Duffy, John Agard, Jackie Kay and Michael Rosen. Valerie Bloom won in 2022 with her collection Stars with Flaming Tails.
As research carried out by CLPE and Macmillan Children’s Books reveals that many UK primary schoolchildren are missing out on poetry, the CLiPPA enables schools to explore the shortlist with their pupils through its unique Shadowing Scheme, which provides 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.
Louise Johns-Shepherd, Chief Executive, CLPE said, ‘At CLPE we know how much children love poetry and how important it is as a gateway to literacy. The CLiPPA is central to our work to promote poetry in schools and we are very excited, in its 20th anniversary year, to be launching the CLiPPA with this special online event, and thrilled to have the shortlisted poets taking part. Each year, the CLiPPA engages more and more children and young people with poetry and we expect record numbers of schools to participate this year.’
The winner of the 2023 CLiPPA will be announced at the CLiPPA Poetry Show, live onstage at the National Theatre, Monday 10 July, before an audience of 900. 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.
