The Final Year wins the CLiPPA Poetry Award 2024

Matt Goodfellow has been awarded the CLiPPA (CLPE Children's Poetry Award) for his powerful, sensitive verse novel, The Final Year, illustrated by Joe Todd-Stanton (Otter-Barry Books).  Poet Liz Berry made the announcement at a live ceremony at the National Theatre on London's Southbank at the climax of the exuberant CLiPPA Poetry Show.

Written in the speech patterns of Manchester, The Final Year details Nate's time in Year 6, an important time made tough for Nate when his little brother falls ill. Helped by his teacher, and with the love of his family, chaotic though that is, Nate survives and thrives. His voice with its Mancunian vernacular is authentic, raw but full of humour, and quite simply unforgettable.

"Unanimous winner"

Liz Berry, chair of the judges, said, "The Final Year was our unanimous winner. A powerful, sensitive, verse-novel which perfectly captures the voices, energy, and complex feelings of the Year 6 classroom. We admired its empathy, depth, deft storytelling and beautiful use of the vernacular.

"We were gripped by Nate's journey and know young readers will be too. The Final Year is not only a great read, it's also an invitation into poetry and the power that writing and reading can hold for those just starting to find their voices."

A former primary school teacher, Matt Goodfellow is one of the most exciting and popular new voices in children's poetry and has featured on the CLiPPA shortlist every year since 2021, most recently for Let's Chase Stars Together (2023).

Matt lives in Stockport and The Final Year is inspired by his own childhood. He is a National Poetry Day Ambassador and spends his time visiting schools, libraries and festivals where his inspiring performances and workshops open new doors to poetry for both children and adults.  You can find Matt's blog for ReadingZone about encouraging children as poets, Poetry as Rebel Writing, here.

CLiPPA Performances

The winner was announced at a special CLiPPA Poetry Show that featured performances from Goodfellow and other poets shortlisted for the award, including Kate Wakeling, Valerie Bloom, Stephen Lightbown and, via video link, Julio Serrano Echeverria and Lawrence Schimel. Children from schools across the country, winners in the CLiPPA Shadowing programme, also performed live onstage.

An audience of 1,100 watched the event live while hundreds of schools across the country joined in watching the CLiPPA Award Ceremony via Livestream.  Former Children's Laureate Chris Riddell illustrated proceedings live on stage.

Amongst schools taking part were Anson Primary School from Brent, and West Hill Primary School, Wandsworth. Four Year 1 pupils from English Martyrs Catholic Primary School, Sparkhill, Birmingham wowed the audience with a performance of Washing Machine Jive, from Kate Wakeling's shortlisted collection, A Dinosaur at the Bus Stop. Eight-year-old Ivy from St Francis Catholic School, Caterham, Surrey, gave a solo performance of Lost For Words by Jay Hulme, from My Heart is a Poem, while Daisy, Faith and Amelia from Devonshire Park School, Birkenhead, performed the poem 'Ya Need To Be Able To Pin This Down' from Matt Goodfellow's winning book.

Rebecca Eaves, chief executive at CLPE, said, "The Final Year celebrates primary schools, their teachers and the power of poetry and stands out even on such a strong shortlist".  Matt Goodfellow receives a trophy and a cheque for £1000. As part of the prize he will also be recorded for the prestigious National Poetry Archive.

The CLiPPA shortlist (by suggested reading age):

A Dinosaur at the Bus Stop by Kate Wakeling, illustrated by Eilidh Muldoon, Otter-Barry Books (4+)
My Heart is a Poem, various poets, various illustrators, Little Tiger Press (6+)
Balam and Lluvia's House by Julio Serrano Echeverria, illustrated by Tolanda Mosquera, translated by Lawrence Schimel, The Emma Press (7+)
The Final Year by Matt Goodfellow, illustrated by Joe Todd-Stanton, Otter-Barry Books (10+)
And I Climbed And I Climbed by Stephen Lightbown, illustrated by Shih-Yu Lin, Troika Books (10+)

This year's judges were poets Liz Berry and CLiPPA-shortlisted Laura Mucha, teacher and writer Darren Chetty, and Billie Manning, learning and participation co-ordinator at the Poetry Society, along with teacher and UKLA member Imogen Maund.