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[Title] => A World of Wonder
[Description] => Where will your pupils' imaginations take them?
[Subheading] => A World of Wonder is a poetry competition for 7-12 year-olds where anything is possible!
[Age] => Ideal for 7-12
[Intro] =>
Pupils can write about something real, something imagined, something they love, or somewhere they've always wanted to go:
A dragon's cave. Outer space. Their favourite animal. Ancient Egypt. A perfect day. A strange invention. A magical creature. A better world.
Any theme, any style, one simple starting point: imagination!
With 'Wonder' as this year's National Poetry Day theme, there will be plenty of ways to inspire your pupils but with Young Writers, their poems can
go beyond the classroom.
We'll post out free, full-colour A3 worksheets
that will engage pupils, spark ideas and help them plan their poems. Then you can enter their work for the chance to see them
published in a real book!
NEW RESOURCE
6 Ways Into A World of Wonder
Six simple poetry activities to help every pupil find a way into a poem.
Acrostics, imaginary worlds, riddles, happy moments, adventures, and rhyme.
A4 | Black & white | Ready to print & photocopy
Where could their wonder take them?
Sometimes all it takes is one idea. Here are four ways into A World of Wonder...
🌍
EXPLORE A WORLD
Go somewhere amazing.
Outer space • deep underwater • Ancient Egypt • a magical kingdom • somewhere they love
🐉
IMAGINE THE IMPOSSIBLE
Invent something that couldn't really happen.
A talking animal • a dragon next door • a secret doorway • a strange invention • a world run by children
✨
WONDER ABOUT REAL LIFE
Look at something ordinary in a new way.
Friendship • family • nature • growing up • seasons • school • a favourite place
🌟
CHANGE THE WORLD
Imagine how things could be different.
Make a wish • solve a problem • protect the planet • create a kinder world • invent the future
Or something completely different. In A World of Wonder, there are no wrong directions.
Let every pupil take it somewhere different
A World of Wonder can be silly, magical, adventurous, personal, or thoughtful. Pupils can write about something they already love, invent something completely impossible, or turn an everyday idea into something extraordinary.
There's no single 'right' kind of poem and no one route through the activity, so confident writers can stretch their imaginations while less confident pupils still have an easy way in.
FUN TO IMAGINE:
Dragons, space, heroes, magic, strange worlds or anything else they can dream up.
EASY TO MAKE THEIR OWN:
Every pupil can choose a subject and style that suits them.
ACCESSIBLE FOR DIFFERENT ABILITIES:
From a simple acrostic or riddle to free verse, kennings or something more ambitious.
One lesson. Endless possibilities.
A World of Wonder is easy to turn into a ready-made poetry activity. Introduce the idea, spark their imaginations, get them writing, then send us their poems.
1
INTRODUCE
Enter A World of Wonder
3
WRITE
Create their poem
Everything you need, ready to use
From the first spark to finished poem, we've prepared the resources to help you get your whole class thinking, creating, and writing.
GET THEM EXCITED
Video trailer • Introduce A World of Wonder and spark their imaginations
GET THEM STARTED
Planning worksheet • Choose an idea, poetic style and techniques, with examples to help
GET THEM WRITING
Ready-made lesson plan & activity • Take your class from ideas to poems without planning from scratch
BUILD THEIR POETRY SKILLS
Poetic techniques glossary & examples • Help pupils experiment with language and different ways to write
Creativity with real learning built in
A World of Wonder gives pupils the freedom to follow their imaginations while developing the writing skills you're already teaching.
CREATIVE WRITING
Generate, develop, and shape original ideas.
LANGUAGE & TECHNIQUE
Experiment with vocabulary, imagery, and poetic techniques.
WRITING FORMS
Explore different ways to structure a poem; from acrostics and riddles, to free verse and kennings.
CONFIDENCE & EXPRESSION
Give pupils the freedom to make choices, find their own voice, and create something they're proud of.
Perfect for English, literacy, creative writing, and National Poetry Day.
Imagine seeing their poem in a real book...
For many pupils, that's the moment the activity becomes something more than another piece of schoolwork.
Pupils who enter World of Wonder have the exciting opportunity to have their writing published in a real book, and will receive a certificate recognising their achievement.
Every entrant also receives a bookmark and sticker for taking part.
And there are prizes to win!
FOR PUPILS
10 WINNERS
Our favourite 10 writers will each win a reading and writing hamper packed with goodies.
FOR SCHOOLS
£1,000
Young Writers' Award of Excellence
PLUS every participating school receives a free copy of the book their pupils feature in.
The more entries you send, the more free copies you'll receive.
Ready to take your class into A World of Wonder?
Everything you need to spark ideas, explore poetry, and get your pupils writing is ready to use.
Closing date: Friday 6th November 2026
Need the details?
Jump straight to what you need.
[Rules] =>
THE POEM- Poems must be the pupil's own work.
- Poems can be written in any poetic style and use any poetic techniques.
- There is no word or line limit.
- Work can be handwritten or typed.
- An adult can scribe/type for a pupil where needed.
- One entry per pupil.
WHAT TO INCLUDE
- Each entry should include the pupil's name, age, and school name.
- Initials or first names only can be used where necessary.
- If there is anything we should take into consideration when reading the work, please note this on the entry.
SENDING YOUR ENTRIES
- There is no limit to the number of pupils a school can enter.
- Where possible, please submit entries together.
- Include one Teacher Entry Form per teacher.
- If entries need to be kept separated by class, please submit a separate Teacher Entry Form for each class.
- Entries can be completed on the pupil entry form, written on an A4 sheet, typed, or submitted through the Online Writing Portal.
GOOD TO KNOW
- Free to enter.
- No purchase is necessary to win.
- Copyright remains with the author.
- Open to UK entrants only.
Closing date: Friday 6th November 2026
[School Prizes] =>
£1,000
The school with our favourite set of entries will win
£1,000 & the Young Writers' Award of Excellence.
PLUS free books for participating schools.
Every participating school receives a free copy of the book their pupils feature in, with more free copies available for higher entry volumes.
[Student Prizes] =>
10 WINNERS
Reading & writing hampers
Our favourite 10 young writers will each win a
reading and writing hamper packed with goodies.
Everyone gets something.
Every entrant receives a bookmark and sticker, and published young writers receive a Certificate of Merit.
(School and pupil winners will be chosen from entries received in the autumn term 2026 that have permission to be published - no purchase necessary. Prizes will be awarded the following term. Image for illustration purposes only; contents may vary.)
[Tips] =>
[YouTube] => Ae4dq6k2cDg
[Opens] => 2026-08-18
[Closes] => 2026-11-06
[Extended] => 1
[Orion ID] => 771
[RR Ontraport ID] => 831
[DL Ontraport ID] => 830
[Post Class] => PS
[Orion Teacher Year] => KS2
[How to Enter] =>
[Winners Subheading] =>
[Winners Intro] =>
[Winner Word] =>
[Schools/Clubs] => Schools
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[Independent Intro] =>
Are you a teacher or entering pupils through a school?
We've got free classroom resources, printed pupil worksheets, and everything you need to run A World of Wonder with your class.
GO TO THE SCHOOLS PAGE →
Where could your child's imagination take them?
Give your child the chance to explore an idea they love and turn it into a poem of their own.
A World of Wonder is an open-themed poetry competition where anything is possible. Their poem could take them into space, deep underwater, into a magical kingdom, or it could be inspired by friendship, animals, nature, a favourite place, history, or something they'd love to change.
Any theme. Any poetic style. Plenty of ways to make it their own.
Help them find their starting point
A few simple prompts can be all it takes to get their imagination moving.
EXPLORE A WORLD
They could travel somewhere amazing in their imagination.
Outer space • deep underwater • Ancient Egypt • a magical kingdom • somewhere they love
IMAGINE THE IMPOSSIBLE
They could invent something that couldn't really happen.
A talking animal • a dragon next door • a secret doorway • a strange invention • a world run by children
FIND WONDER IN REAL LIFE
They could look at something familiar in a new way.
Friendship • family • nature • growing up • seasons • school • a favourite place
CHANGE THE WORLD
They could imagine how things might be different.
Make a wish • solve a problem • protect the planet • create a kinder world • invent the future
You don't need to be a poetry expert
A World of Wonder is designed to give young writers plenty of freedom. There's no word or line limit, and their poem can be written in any poetic style and use any poetic techniques they like.
The most useful thing you can do is help them find an idea they're excited about, then let their imagination lead the way.
LET THEM LEAD
Ask questions, talk through ideas, and encourage them, but let the words and imagination be theirs.
THERE'S NO 'RIGHT' KIND OF POEM
It can rhyme or not rhyme. It can be funny, adventurous, thoughtful, magical, or completely unexpected.
HELP IS OK
If your child needs support with the physical act of writing, an adult can scribe or type their poem for them. The ideas and poem itself should still be their own work.
The aim isn't a perfect poem; it's giving them the chance to create something that feels like theirs.
Imagine them seeing their poem in a real book!
There's something special about seeing your own words in print, especially when you're a young writer.
Your child has the opportunity to see their writing published in a real Young Writers book, alongside poems by other children from across the UK.
Young writers whose work we'd love to publish also receive a Certificate of Merit, while every child who enters receives a bookmark and a sticker for taking part.
It's a chance to celebrate what they've created and help them feel proud and confident about their writing.
And there are prizes to win...
10 WINNERS
Reading & Writing Hampers
Our favourite 10 young writers will each win a
reading and writing hamper packed with goodies.
Ready to enter their poem?
Their poem can be handwritten on an entry form or sheet of A4 paper, or typed. When it's ready, choose the easiest way to send it to us.
EMAIL
Email their poem, along with the young writer's
name and full address, to:
[email protected]
POST
Include the young writer's name and full address and send their poem to:
Young Writers A World of Wonder
Remus House
Peterborough
PE2 9BF
Closing date: Friday 6th November 2026
[Independent Rules] =>
THEIR POEM
- Your child's poem must be their own work.
- The poem can be written in any poetic style and use any poetic techniques.
- Only one entry per person.
PREPARING THEIR ENTRY
- Their work can be written on the entry form, an A4 sheet of paper or typed. An adult can assist.
- Please include your child's name, age and full postal address on their entry.
GOOD TO KNOW
- Free to enter.
- UK entrants only.
- No purchase necessary.
- Copyright remains with the author.
[Independent Prizes] =>
10 WINNERS
Reading & writing hampers
The top 10 published writers will each win a
fantastic reading and writing hamper.
PLUS
Every entrant receives a bookmark and sticker for taking part.
Pupils whose work we'd like to publish also receive a certificate.
Winners will be chosen from entries received September-November 2026 that have permission to be published. No purchase necessary. Independent entrants are eligible to win. Prizes will be awarded in the following term. Hamper image is for illustration purposes only and contents may vary.
[Meta Title] => KS2 Poetry Competition | A World of Wonder
[Meta Description] => A free poetry competition for 7-12 year olds. Inspire pupils to explore their imagination and write about a world of wonder, with free classroom resources.
[Meta Keywords] => KS2 poetry competition, poetry competition for children, primary school poetry competition, poetry activities KS2, creative writing KS2, poetry for 7-12 year olds, children's poetry competition
[Share Title] => A World of Wonder: Where Will Their Imagination Take Them?
[Share Description] => From magical kingdoms and impossible inventions to friendship, nature and the future, inspire your pupils to turn their own world of wonder into poetry.
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[Category] => Primary 7-12
[Type] => poetry
[Country] => UK
[Resource Hub Text] =>
[Letters Sent Date] => 2026-05-04
[Letters Sent Satus] =>
[Books Published Start Date] => 2026-05-18
[Books Published End Date] => 2026-06-22
[Books Published Status] =>
[Winners Announced Date] => 2026-07-17
[Winners Announced Status] =>
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[date_created] => 2026-08-17 21:07:47
[last_updated] => 2026-11-03 10:56:52
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