This submission came from Di Hewitson, Headteacher at Kells Lane Primary School, Low Fell, Gateshead.

Success for pupil at Kells Lane Primary School

Katharyn Church’s poem, below, won the Northumbrian Association’s Young Writers Award 2006.

Her work was submitted by Headteacher Di Hewitson after winning the school’s own Year 6 Writer of the Year Award in the individual category, with its clever use of repetition and evocative vocabulary.

Every year the school encourages the children in Year 6 to think about our area, why it is special to them and consider a place which evokes fond memories, feelings of pride or happiness. They then write about it using the full range of the higher order writing skills taught e.g. metaphor, simile, patterning of language or personification. The teacher models the writing on a piece about the Angel of the North and every year we get a high standard of work from our children. We had three very special poems in 2006, which we entered for competitions.

The Northumbrian Association's writing competition fits in beautifully with our programme of work and also the National Curriculum requirement to write for a purpose and audience, so we sent in all three pieces with the attached poem by Katharyn, which won The Northumbrian Association Young Writers Award with a prize for Katharyn and £1,000 towards an author residency for the school.

Katharyn was then asked by the Leader of Gateshead Council, Councillor Mick Henry, to read out the poem at the Council meeting of Thursday 25th of January in the Council Chamber, and a letter of endorsement of Kells Lane’s work with writing was sent to the school by local MP, Sharon Hodgson.

The Voice of the North, by Katharyn Church

I stand proud, my roof a glistening river of flowing, welcoming beauty.
Great voices entertain me, voices of the future depend on me to stay as a guiding light of power.
I stand as hope for future talents in Gateshead.

I stand proud, glittering on top of my sunlit hill.
Never forgotten, as I look down to the Tyne and up to the town Where my power spreads, hunting for blossoming achievers.

I stand proud, the modern art masterpiece, known for the overpowering hope I bring.
I was created by the best and am worshipped by the rest,
Bringing hope and joy to those who inhabit my great halls.

I stand proud, and I welcome you my people to wander my halls, spread my greatness and distribute my light.
My wish to you is to bring hope for the future yet carry light from the past.
I am The Sage, the voice of the North.