In accordance with the charitable objects of Christ Church and more particularly the terms of the Christopher Tower benefaction, Tower Poetry offers primary and secondary schools grants of up to £500 to further the understanding, enjoyment, and teaching of poetry in English.

The teaching of poetry includes both formal literary appreciation and other forms of creative engagement such as memorisation, recitation, composition, and translation.

We are particularly committed to funding activities that will have a long term and positive impact on the teaching of poetry in the classroom. As such, priority will be given to applications for funding to support teachers in their continuing professional development (CPD), whether through participation in courses, workshops, and conferences, or through involvement with research projects and networks.

About Tower Poetry Schools Grants

 

Priority activities include:

  • Teacher participation in research projects and networks relating to the teaching of poetry, including costs of travel and supply teacher cover
  • Teacher attendance at continuing professional development (CPD) courses, workshops, and conferences relating to the teaching of poetry, including costs of travel and supply teacher cover.

Other eligible activities include:

  • Poetry clubs, including the purchase of books and resources
  • School trips, including the costs of tickets and travel
  • Visiting poet events, including costs of travel
  • Subscriptions to online and print poetry resources

Eligibility

 

We welcome applications from all primary and secondary schools and Further Education Colleges in the United Kingdom, as well as other statutory providers of education including Young Offender Institutions, Secure Children’s Homes, Secure Schools, and Hospital Schools.

Priority will be given to:

  • Schools working with one of our research partners
  • Schools in Christ Church’s link regions (the North East of England and Barnet, London)
  • Schools in Oxfordshire
  • Schools with a higher than average proportion of pupils receiving free school meals and/or with an index of multiple deprivation (IMD) 1 or 2

at the discretion of the Tower Poetry Prize Committee.

Terms of the Grant

 

We ask recipients of Schools Grants to submit a brief written report detailing use of funds, outcomes, and future plans.

We reserve the right to request the return of part or all of the Grant if it has not been used strictly in accordance with the application for which we agreed to make the Grant available.

How to apply

 

To submit an application, please complete the online form. If there are time constraints on your application, please make a note of this. By submitting an application you are deemed to accept the above terms.

 Submit an application

Applications are assessed on a rolling basis. The Tower Poetry Schools Grants scheme will run, in the first instance, for three years until the close of the 2027-28 academic year.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • When should I apply for a grant?

    Apply as soon as you need the funds; there is no closing date for applications.

  • When can I expect a response?

    We aim to give an initial indication of whether the application is likely to be successful within one month; we aim to formally approve the grant within two months, although applications made during the summer (July-September) are likely to have a longer turnaround period.

  • Can my school apply for more than one Schools Grant?

    Your school may apply for more than one grant in any academic year, but we will not award more than a total annual sum of £500. You are welcome to apply again in subsequent years.

  • Can my school apply for a grant to purchase set texts?

    No. Grants cannot be used to purchase set texts or basic resources such as dictionaries, exercise books, or classroom technology.

  • Can I use this grant to buy poetry books for my school library?

    Yes. Schools Grants can be used to buy poetry books for your school library as part of a well-defined activity or programme of activities, such as a research project or weekly poetry club. Grants cannot be used for the sole purpose of enhancing a school library’s poetry stock.

  • Can you fund general literary or creative writing activities?

    Yes, but the primary focus of these activities must be on the composition or appreciation of poetry in English. Please give details of the proposed split between poetry and other forms of literature in your application. Priority is given to activities which are solely or substantially focused on poetry in English.

  • Can you fund activities promoting poetry in languages other than English?

    Unfortunately not. The terms of the Tower benefaction mean that we can only give grants to support projects promoting poetry in English.

  • Can you fund activities for young people outside of the school context?

    No. Our grants must be used to support the teaching and enjoyment of poetry in English in schools.

  • I would like my school to be involved with research relating to the teaching of poetry. Who should I talk to?

    Please get in touch with the Tower Administrator, Maya Little, who will be able to advise you.