Demonstrating their linguistic flair and creativity helped four budding poets from Graeme High School secure highly commended awards in a national competition.

Boglarka Balla, Simi Singh, Brooke Braidwood and Chloe Gibb all entered into this year’s Mother Tongue Other Tongue poetry competition organised by Scotland’s National Centre for Languages.

Now in its fifth year, the competition celebrates linguistic and cultural diversity through creative writing, showcasing the many languages used by children and young people across Scotland in education and at home.

This year, over 100 entries were submitted from across Scotland in 23 different languages.  All four pupils from Graeme High School penned their work in French and received their prizes at a ceremony held in the University of Strathclyde last month (March).

All winning and highly commended poems, songs and raps are now available in an online anthology.

Lesley Carroll, Head teacher, Graeme High School, said: “Learning a foreign language can open many unexpected doors for young people, including the chance to enter this competition. Our pupils submitted their creative work to the Other Tongue section, which means their entries were written in a language they are currently studying at school. All four should be very proud of what they have achieved. Their work will now be held in an anthology that celebrates the diversity of our communities and the wealth of languages being spoken and studied across the country.”

Photographed are award winning Greame High School pupils (from left to right): Chloe Gibb (S2), Simi Singh (S5) and Boglarka Balla (S6).