Students at Rockwood Academy in Birmingham, part of CORE Education Trust, took part in a series of poetry workshops delivered in partnership with Empower Poetry.
The sessions, organised by the academy’s Learning Resource Centre and English Department, were led by poet and founder Ryan Dre Sinclair, who works to support and promote the spoken word community across Birmingham and the West Midlands. Students from years 7 to 10 took part in workshops focused on themes of diversity and creativity, with many inspired to write and perform their own poetry.
Ryan founded Empower Poetry to create more opportunities for poets in the region, with a focus on giving a platform to a wide range of voices and encouraging participation in spoken word. Staff at the school said the workshops provided students with a valuable opportunity to express themselves and engage with poetry in a new and accessible way.
Rockwood Academy aims to equip students with the skills and confidence to communicate effectively, while nurturing creativity and a love of literature through a diverse and engaging curriculum. Richard Reeve, headteacher at Rockwood Academy, said: “Our students really enjoyed working with Ryan and took to the workshops brilliantly.
“National Poetry Day gave them a great opportunity to explore creativity, and it was fantastic to see so many of them finding their voice through poetry. A huge thank you to Ryan for making the day such an inspiring experience.”
Ryan Dre Sinclair said: “The day was magnificent, interactive and seamless, working with talented students who used the art form of poetry in relation to things that mattered to them.”
