About the Summer Schools
Young poets between 18-23 years old are invited every two years to apply for the Tower Poetry residential summer school. The programme aims to develop writing and critical skills through a series of exciting and challenging workshops run by two established poets, with additional guest readings during the week. All tuition and accommodation costs will be paid for by Tower Poetry. At the end of the summer school, a selection of the students' poems will be published in a poetry pamphlet. The top three winners from the annual Tower Poetry competition will automatically be offered places on the summer school following their 18th birthday.
You can listen to Summer School tutor, Stephen Romer, giving a talk about the 2018 residential.
Summer School 2023 - Open for Applications
The 2023 Tower Poetry Summer School will take place on 21 - 24 August. This year's tutors will be the renowned poets Helen Mort and André Naffis-Sahely and we will have readings from the wonderful John Clegg and Isabel Galleymore.
If you would like to apply for a place on the Summer School, please send the following to tower.poetry@chch.ox.ac.uk:
- A short cover letter telling us about yourself and explaining why you would like to take part in the Summer School.
- Four or five poems you have written - we would love to read an example of your work.
The deadline for applications is Tuesday 30th May 2023.
To be eligible for the Summer School, you must be no younger than 18 years old, and no older than 23 years, on the 21 August 2023. Christ Church will cover the costs of tuition, accommodation and food. We are unable to cover travel expenses. If you have any questions about the Summer School and/or the application process, please don't hesitate to contact Megan, the Tower Poetry Administrator, at tower.poetry@chch.ox.ac.uk.
Summer School Publications
After each Summer School, Tower Poetry publishes a collection of poems that the participants have written during the residential. Previous editions include:
- ‘Panado’ (2009), ed. Jane Draycott and Frances Leviston
- ‘The Twelve’ (2010), ed. Daljit Nagra and Jo Shapcott;
- ‘Earth-Quiet’ (2012), ed. Alan Gillis and Kevin Young
- ‘Something to be Said’ (2014), ed. Jane Griffiths and David Wheatley
- ‘Flowers From the Dark’ (2016), ed. Alan Gillis and Olivia McCannon
- ‘Hatch a Blue Sky’ (2018), ed. Stephen Romer and Andrew Wynn Owen
Further details of Tower Poetry publications can be found on the 'Books and Publications' webpage.
