"Inner bards" were discovered through a day of special poetry workshops given by performance poet and acclaimed writer Ash Dickinson.

 

The poet gave workshops to students from all year groups on Wednesday May 10 taking them through his working practices as well as performing some of his favourite pieces to them.

 

Each student was able to also write their own poems during the workshop and share it with Ash and the group.

 

 

The day was a brilliant change from the classroom poetry classes, with some students saying they expected Ash to be a lot older and reading from a book. He was pleased to quash the stereotypes and give the students a different view of poetry, and how they can use it to express their feelings.

 

About the day, Ash said: "Engaging 300 students in a hall about poetry can seem an onerous assignment but the year 9s, 10s, 7s and 8s were very welcoming, attentive and bought into my methods. I was delighted by how many wished to read their work aloud. I think we might have unearthed some inner bards!

 

"I concluded my school day with the loveliest group of sixth formers - interesting, inquisitive, game. I could have taken them for many more hours.

 

"My day didn't even finish with the bell -I was the recipient of acclaim and thanks on my way to the train station - where I found six girls reading their poems to each other on the platform!

 

"A heartening, satisfying, lovely day."

 

 

 

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Read a selection of the poems written by our students from the day here:

Lucas Poorun 8D

Quatrain

A place without a splashing spread of sorrow, I set,

There stands a ball of energy where it flames blitz blazing bright

A crystal clear dome tramquil as tree, you bet,

There is fantasy that awaits in the middle fo the night.

 

Haiku

Volcano explodes

Venomous Magma oozing

Varied with crimson red

 

Leo D 7E

Quatrain

The stage was set

The lights were bright

I will never forget

The amazing sight

 

Noah M

Quatrain

I watched the sun set

While it slowly got less bright

Even now I don’t forget

That now it’s time for night

 

 

 

Mrs W

Haiku

Planet of the cats

I wish I had a house there

Every day, Purrrfect.

 

Y9 anon

Haiku

All they did was purr

They’d lick their paws and meow

It was very dumb.