Leighton Park School’s 2024 Polyglot Poetry Prize, held on 4th October, brought together students for a unique celebration of language, creativity, and mathematics. This annual House competition, in honour of European Day of Languages and UK National Poetry Day, challenged students to explore the intersection of language and numbers through poetry, music, and performance.
Matt Taylor, Head of English and event organiser, remarked: “This year the students participating in the Polyglot Poetry performance were simply sensational. It seems each year they rise to new heights, and we were thrilled to see the various and creative ways in which they interpreted what was a fairly challenging topic: ‘maths.’ From Paul Desmond’s ‘Take Five’ as a piano accompaniment to a presentation with Greek symbols substituting for letters of the alphabet, their inventiveness and imagination knows no bounds”. Matt also noted “The myriad languages on show this year speak to the international-mindedness of our school community and the richness of our diverse cultures.”
This year’s theme, “Maths,” inspired multilingual performances from each House, with students using at least three languages; English, French, Spanish, German, and Mandarin, all of which are taught at Leighton Park. Performances combined mathematics with poetry, rhythm, and theatrical elements, blending the logical with the lyrical in captivating ways.
Eddie Falshaw, Deputy Head, praised the event: “Thank you to Matt and Anna for a tremendous Polyglot. It was rich and fantastic and an absolute joy to watch.”
The House Collective entries were a highlight, with students creatively integrating mathematical sequences, numbers, and multilingual poetry. One group utilised the Fibonacci sequence to structure their poem, while others paired counting rhythms with spoken verses in multiple languages. After each performance, poignant reflections highlighted the emotional and universal dimensions of numbers and words.
Fox and Tubman drew for first place with their striking multilingual performances, while Bents-Enchill secured second place. In the individual categories, standout poems explored symmetry and the mystery of prime numbers, with students blending French, German, Mandarin, and Spanish to craft their unique works.
The Polyglot Poetry Prize showcased the students’ ability to merge logic, creativity, and cultural diversity, reinforcing Leighton Parks commitment to interdisciplinary learning.
Take the next step by selecting an option below, or if you want to drop us a quick message, you can do so with the form.
Δ