Daniel Pitts, poet laureate of Uxbridge High School has written a poem following on from his attendance of Challenge 2012. He, along with around 400 young people, attended the event, and played a vital role feeding into discussions and debates around the future of education in the country.

At the closing ceremony, to a room of 3,000, Daniel read out his poem. We are delighted to publish it now:

Challenge 2012
 by Daniel Pitts, Uxbridge High School Poet Laureate 

Wow, what, a, day,

Who would have thought there would be so much going on when you walked through those doors, 
The day has been so full of activities; the organisers deserve a massive round of applause.
 
 I’ve heard many discussions and plans to help improve student education,
There have been talks on many subjects, right down to Student/Teacher relations.
I never realised until today how much work and effort is put in,
To ensure that our countries education doesn’t end up in the bin. 

It seems that a lot of people have a voice in improving education, students included,
I am very pleased to see how many of you have come together to help improve this,
There has been something for everyone, from creative writing to a classroom of the past,
The experiences of the teaching profession here today have been so vast.

 I took part in a workshop that looked at the needs required to change the fortunes of our schools,
With so many ideas it made me realise, there really are no hard and fast rules.
I then went to one called “I am young and I am winning”,
The inspiration in there left my head spinning. 

I have realised there are no barriers that can’t be overcome to achieve what we want to do,
And it’s down to all of us to ensure that children have the chance to make their dreams come true.

As you travel home across our nation,
Remember those three words said this morning by Sir Michael Barber,
“Education, Education, Education” 

Wow, what, a, day.