Poetry Book Society

Calling all English students…

The T S Eliot Prize Shadowing Scheme is ideal for GCSE or ‘A’ level English students keen to explore poetry beyond the prescribed texts of the examination boards. Each year, the T S Eliot Prize judges select the ten best collections from those submitted that year. Only one of those ten poets will go on to win the Prize of £15,000. The T S Eliot Prize Shadowing Scheme affords students the opportunity to select their own favourite poet, ahead of the judges’ decision.

Once the shortlist is announced (usually in October), students can download 2 poems from each of the 10 collections and, through reading these, arrive at their own personal favourite. ‘A’ level students are invited to go a step further and write a 500 word rationale on their preferred poet. The winning student’s rationale is printed in emagazine. And, as if that isn’t kudos enough, they also win two tickets to the T S Eliot Prize Readings and the Award Ceremony where they will be introduced to the winning poet. What’s more, they will also receive a full set of the 10 shortlisted collections so they can fill their boots with poetry for some time to come.

Past winners of the scheme have revelled in the glam affair that is the award ceremony, rubbing shoulders with poets, publishers and journalists. The winner of the writing competition in 2011 was Liam O'Brien from East Barnet School who wrote his rationale in favour of Carol Ann Duffy's The Bees.


And their teachers…

If you’re a teacher and eager to take your students ‘off piste’ for a poetry lesson or two, then we hope that the poem downloads together with the teachers' guide available from the emagazine website (from early October) will whet your appetite and provide you with sufficient resources to confidently lead your students through the best in contemporary poetry.

Here’s what teachers have had to say about the scheme in previous years:

“The experience was challenging, fun, stimulating and made a change from the daily grind.”
Neil Bowen, teacher at Wells Cathedral School

"The T S Eliot Shadowing Scheme gives students a genuine opportunity to engage with the best contemporary poetry in a purposeful and collaborative way. The competition is easy to manage, resources are free and it only takes a lesson or two to set up. I would recommend it to A Level English teachers everywhere."
Jane Bluett, teacher at Bilborough College, Nottingham

“This scheme encourages students to confidently talk about poetry and share their opinions in lively discussions. A unique opportunity for students to test their ideas about poetry without being tested!” Daljit Nagra, poet and teacher at JFS, London