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LAUREL WREATHS, NAKED SNAILS AND T-REX APPRECIATION National Poetry Day celebrations featured a hotly anticipated visit from poetry world champion Harry Baker. His performances for S7–9 in the Theatre combined impressive word play with personal reflection to demonstrate the power of poetry to connect, move and surprise. Pupils particularly enjoyed joining in Harry’s ode to the wonder of ‘falafel’ in German, the unforgettable ‘Dinosaur Love’, and his world title-winning ‘Paper People’ which left the audience speechless. LVI English pupils and the younger winners in our poetry competition were also treated to a masterclass with Harry in which many were brave enough to share their writing. Thank you, Harry, for such a poetic treat of a day.

DARLING, YOUR MIND CAN LET YOU DOWN Darling, your mind can let you down. Just as flowers parch, wither, rot. Forgetfulness throttles a world, a nation, a town. You remember history as an orb, a crown Not as a bitter endurance, a suffering, a shot Darling, your mind can let you down. We reminisce about dances in a crushed silk gown Not the slaughter of soldiers barely out of their cot Forgetfulness throttles a world, a nation, a town. We reflect on the past with a distant smile, an academic frown As we consider ourselves so busy, so burdened with our lot Darling, your mind can let you down. Absent, confined by the walls of lockdown We pay no attention to the past, we do not Forgetfulness throttles a world, a nation, a town. It just takes one word, one whisper, one noun To remind you of the world you forgot. Darling, your mind can let you down. Forgetfulness throttles a world, a nation, a town. Alex Mortimore, LVI

During Harry’s visit, at a special ceremony held in the Ballroom, the School’s inaugural Poet Laureate Alex Mortimer, LVI was crowned. Many congratulations to Alex on her appointment. In her timely and thought-provoking poem composed for this year’s Remembrance Service, Alex makes an impassioned plea to remember honestly and urges us to put our Covid challenges into perspective. Ms Helen Cleaves, Librarian POETRY BY HEART Members of the Creative Performance Club worked hard to prepare submissions for this year’s Poetry By Heart Competition. Ten Senior 8 pupils offered a preview of their competition entries at an event held in the Theatre and streamed live to an audience of parents and staff. The competition is divided into three strands, ranging from the formal ‘Classic’ event to the more dynamic ‘Showcase’ and entries for each were impressively engaging and lively. Recordings of the performances were submitted in advance of the National Final due to take place at the British Library. Well done to all the participants! Mr Edward Elstub, Teacher of English

Champion poet Harry Baker crowns Alex Mortimer IPS Poet Laureate

TSBA TWITTER TALES Six to eight books are shortlisted annually for the Trinity Schools Book Award (TSBA). The books have a target readership of children in Years 7–9. In addition to the award itself, participating schools may submit entries into a ‘Creative Response’ competition. Previous entries have included original music compositions or scores, board games, an ice sculpture, a cake, jigsaw puzzles, artwork, fan fiction, and lots more. The range of entries submitted by IPS pupils for this year’s TSBA Creative Response competition has been fantastic, from thought-provoking collages and cover re-designs, to original piano compositions and poems. Impressively creative ideas included the ‘Justice Jam’ rap performed by Imogen Day, S8; ‘Choose Your Own Adventure’ style game written and produced by Joshua Clements in S8; and a “showstopper” cake made by Sophia Waddington, S7. All were inspired by Sharna Jackson’s High Rise Mystery , one of the seven titles shortlisted for the TSBA this year. Some of the best entries were tweeted by @IPSLIB and received replies from the authors who love seeing the creations inspired by their stories. Cake by Sophia Waddington, S7

Shortlisted pupils will compete against the best entries from other participating schools, with overall winners announced at this year’s TSBA Awards ceremony. This year it will be live streamed from the IPS Theatre on Wednesday 26 May. Don’t forget to follow @IPSLIB on Twitter for all things book-related, including news of latest releases and forthcoming author events taking place both online and in-person!