‘What a World…’ is the title of the poem submitted to a Young Writers competition by Ashley Lim, 16, a student at Acton Burnell-based Concord College.

It is the first competition that Ashley has entered though she has been writing poetry since a young age.

Her poem is based on ‘Equal Rights,’ the topic which inspired her to write ‘If only we could live in a world of equality without a sense of inferiority.’

Ashley, who is studying triple sciences and maths, will have her poem published in ‘The Poetry Games – Poems From The Midlands’ whose editor Cheryl Whitfield said she hoped the achievement would encourage confident participation in future creative writing activities.

A copy of the book will be sent to the college, the British Library and other libraries across the UK and Republic of Ireland as a lasting record of Ashley’s – and other students – achievement.

Phil Woods, Concord’s Head of English, said Ashley had responded enthusiastically when she heard about the competition and had written a ‘thoughtful’ poem about the kind of world in which we live.

He said: “I’m delighted that Ashley’s passion and independence have been recognised. The ability to express yourself is a vital skill we look to foster and poetry is a wonderful way to do this.”

As a mark of her achievement, Ashley accompanied Concord Principal Neil Hawkins and a small group of staff and students to the closing event – sponsored by the college – of the Much Wenlock Poetry Festival.