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

The 2023 Tower Poetry summer school took place between 21 - 24 August. The tutors were the renowned poets Helen Mort and Declan Ryan and we had readings from the wonderful John Clegg and Isabel Galleymore. 

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