Westcliff High School for Boys are celebrating their Year 7 students’ success in the Essex Young Poet of the Year 2019 Competition. This annual competition, part of the Essex Poetry Festival, is open to anyone aged 16 or under living in, or attending school in, Essex. This year’s theme of “Mental Well-Being” attracted thousands of entries.

All those in Year 7 at Westcliff High School for Boys were encouraged to express their creativity and enter the “11 and Under” category. WHSB subsequently claimed two of the top three awards along with three ‘highly commended’ results. Bethel Asiriuwa’s poem “Mental Health” and Ebraam Abdel-Malek’s “Breathe” won second and third prizes respectively. Harveer Bawa, Sanat Bhat and Quinn Williams’ compositions were all “Highly Commended”.

English Teacher, Tom Keenan said: “These results are a tremendous achievement for those pupils in their first year at Westcliff High School for Boys. I thank my colleagues in the English Department for their dedication and support to all the entrants, enabling them to develop and demonstrate their poetic talent.”

Headmaster, Mike Skelly, said: “Each year our students, encouraged by staff, enter a wealth of competitions, both local and national, across many subject areas. We take great pleasure in recognising those who enter and in celebrating their success.”