Fifth Year Inspired at Poetry Live!

On Thursday 30 January, the entire Fifth Year cohort (148 pupils) travelled into London to see ‘Poetry Live!’ at the Apollo Victoria Theatre, where they had a day full of inspiring talks and poetry performances by acclaimed poets, including Carol Ann Duffy and National Poet Laureate Simon Armitage. The day provided an invaluable opportunity for pupils to develop their English Literature exam skills through unseen poetry and comparative essay writing workshops conducted by leading examiners, interspersed with thought-provoking discussions of the poets’ works beyond the curriculum. By the end of the day, pupils had cultivated an awareness of the inspiration behind many poems and felt able to make assured comments about poetic form. Many pupils thought the highlight of the day was John Agard’s vibrant performance of ‘Half-Caste’ which was met with rapturous applause.