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Macmillan Education Caribbean is thrilled to announce the official launch of the Language Tree New Branches: Poetry Competition, an inspiring regional initiative designed to ignite creativity, support literacy development, and celebrate the unique voices of young learners and educators across the Caribbean.

Open to primary school students (Grades 3–6), lower secondary students, and teachers, the competition invites participants to submit original poems responding to one of six themes that reflect Caribbean life and identity. These are: The Weather, Nature, The Sea, Food, An Animal, or A Festival. Poems should be between 8 and 20 lines, written in Standard English, and reflect the personal voice and creativity of each entrant.

“Our goal is to create opportunities for expression that are accessible, enjoyable, and rooted in the lived experiences of our students and teachers,” said Katy Cordery, Marketing Manager at Macmillan Education Caribbean. “This competition offers a chance to celebrate the Caribbean’s diverse cultures and landscapes while fostering a love for language and literacy.”

Participants are encouraged to accompany their poems with hand-drawn illustrations. While these visuals would not be considered during judging, they offer a creative outlet for those who want to express themselves beyond words.

Entries must be submitted no later than Friday, 12th September 2025, with early submissions encouraged. A parent, guardian, or teacher must submit entries on behalf of student participants, along with a signed permission form. Poems will be evaluated by class (Primary Students, Secondary Students, and Teachers) based on originality, clarity of expression, relevance to the theme, and the use of poetic language.

Winning entries will be published in a professionally produced, one-off special edition poetry book by Macmillan Education, offering contributors a rare opportunity to become published authors and have their voices amplified across the Caribbean.

Macmillan Education Caribbean has provided detailed competition guidelines, judging criteria, and submission instructions on their website. All interested participants and educators are encouraged to visit the site for full details and to access the submission form.

Competition Guidelines 

Winning poems from each class will be included in a one-off, special edition poetry book, published by Macmillan Education.  

Submission Deadline:  

All entries must be submitted by Friday 12th September 2025 (subject to change at the discretion of Macmillan Education). Late entries will not be accepted. 

Before You Submit: 

Please read the competition terms and conditions carefully. By entering this competition, you agree that you have read and agree to these terms.  

A parent, guardian or teacher, must submit primary or secondary school student’s entries on their behalf.  

Every entry must include a signed permission form. Submissions without a completed permission form will not be accepted. For primary or secondary students,  the form must be signed by a parent or guardian. 

Download permission form here

The competition has three classes: 

∙ Primary School Students (Grades 3-6 / Belize Middle & Upper Division) ∙ Lower Secondary School Students 

∙ Primary & Secondary School Teachers 

Poem Requirements: 

Write a poem based on ONE of the following themes: 

∙ The Weather ∙ Nature 

∙ The Sea 

∙ Food 

∙ An Animal ∙  Festival 

Your poem should: 

∙ Be between 8 and 20 lines 

∙ Be written in Standard English (Creole words may be used for effect) 

∙ Be your original work created by one individual. The use of artificial intelligence (AI) to generate poems is strictly prohibited. All submissions will be thoroughly reviewed and any entries suspected of using AI will be disqualified. 

∙ Be written in your chosen poetic form, for example: free verse, rhyming verse,  acrostic, or rap. 

You are encouraged to include drawn illustrations along with your poem. However,  these are optional and will not be judged as part of the competition. 

Judging Criteria: 

Poems will be judged within each of the three classes on the following: ∙ Relevance to the chosen theme, 

∙ Clarity of expression, 

∙ Use of language, including choice of vocabulary, use of imagery (similes,  alliteration, etc), and 

∙ Originality and imagination. 

How to Submit your poem: 

Submit your poem using this formu

Click the link above and either type your poem directly into the answer box or  uploading a scanned copy of handwritten work (ensuring your handwriting is legible). 

When submitting your entry, please have your signed permission form and images of  your illustration (if applicable) ready to upload at the same time.  

One poem/entry per person.  

Entries can be made at any time before the competition deadline. Early submissions are encouraged as the deadline is subject to change. 

If you encounter technical difficulties, please contact us at: 

caribbean@macmillaneducation.com 

From all of us as Macmillan Education Caribbean – good luck! 

Macmillan Education Supportive Material: 

You many find the following pages useful when writing your poem.