The Thurrock Performance Poetry Competition brings together students from across Thurrock schools to showcase their creativity, confidence, and love of language. After competing in earlier rounds, those selected for the heats earned their place in the final, where they delivered powerful and engaging performances. The event was expertly compered by our Board Director, Lynda Pritchard, and generously sponsored by the Grays Rotary Club.

The standard was incredibly high, making it a truly inspiring occasion — congratulations to all who took part, and especially to our well-deserved winners! This year marked for a special occasion as the Gateway Academy’s internal poetry competition winner Abigail opened the competition with her inspiring poem ‘belonging’ and a group of  Year 7 students performed the fantastic Gateway Poem to close the competition.