This area is for schools involved in the Young Birmingham Poets project and downloads on this page (coming soon) are restricted to programme participants.
The project
Young Birmingham Poets helps to inspire pupils to write poetry of their own.
Following a 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 20% of pupils receiving free school meals.
If you have any questions please email Francesca Bonafede
Schools will receive
- A teacher briefing session focusing on using a memorable experience to inspire reluctant writers
- A Commonwealth Games/Commonwealth inspired memorable experience
- A poetry workshop led by a professional poet
- National Literacy Trust membership worth £100, with access to courses and resources to support literacy teaching in school
- The opportunity for students to perform their poetry
- A chance for students to be published in an anthology
- A free Audible Premium Plus Annual Membership with 24 credits to use audio in lessons, tutor time and assemblies
- Free books and lesson plans
We ask that…
- You deliver two lessons with your class (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
Timeline
- April/May 2022: teacher briefing session
- June 2022: working with your allocated cultural venue and your allocated professional poet
- July 2022: performance opportunities
- September 2022: publication of an anthology of students' poetry
Our cultural partners
The Library of Birmingham
Birmingham Repertory Theatre
Edgbaston Stadium
University of Birmingham
The Poets
Nafeesa Hamid
Jasmine Gardosi
Jamie Thrasivoulou
Lexia Tomlinson
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