Current opportunities
We are currently seeking schools in Birmingham to get involved in our funded poetry programme inspired by the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. Young Birmingham Poets will run in the 2022 Summer Term and is aimed at class groups of students in Years 5 to 9.
The project will involve:
- Engagement with the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games though class visits to a local cultural venue
- A poetry workshop with a local professional poet
- Follow-up activities including the publication of an anthology of students' poetry and performance opportunities
To register your interest please email francesca.bonafede@literacytrust.org.uk
Participant information
This area is for schools involved in the Young Birmingham Poets project and downloads on this page are restricted to programme participants.
Any resources for your pre-visit or follow-up activities can be downloaded from this page.
The project
Through a visit to a cultural venue, Young Birmingham Poets helps to inspire pupils to write poetry of their own.
Following the visit to a cultural venue, schools taking part in the project receive a workshop with a poet to help the pupils shape and develop their poems. Teachers taking part in the project reported improvements in their pupils' attitudes to writing and attainment.
This project is aimed at groups of reluctant writers in Years 5 to 9 from state schools with over 25% of pupils receiving free school meals.
If you have any questions please contact francesca.bonafede@literacytrust.org.uk
Schools will receive
- A teacher CPD focusing on using a memorable experience to inspire reluctant writers
- A memorable experience for students (this could involve a visit to a cultural venue or a socially distanced alternative)
- An online or in person visit from a poet to work with the class on editing and performing their poems
- Membership of the National Literacy Trust worth £100, with access to courses and resources to support literacy teaching in school
- The opportunity for students to perform their poetry either online or in person
- A chance for students to be published in an anthology
We ask that…
- You deliver at least five lessons with your class using the venue workshop as inspiration for their poetry writing (lesson plans provided)
- You nominate and ensure the inclusion of your students in the performance and publishing opportunities
- You and your students complete the post-project evaluation survey
- You copy francesca.bonafede@literacytrust.org.uk into all emails with cultural venues and poets
Useful resources and documents
- Run your own reflective poetry project on the pandemic with your class!
- Writer visits and children and young people's literacy engagement
- Children and young people’s writing during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020
- A thing that makes me happy: Children, young people and poetry in 2018
- Young City Poets - Evaluation Report 2018/19
- Primary or Secondary Annual Literacy Guide
- Write on: poetry slam resource
- Picture the Poet
- Monologue Jam Resources