It’s time again to share the latest poems from two of my young mentee poets: Ianto Carter (year 7) and Elliott World (year 8), who are this year’s Poet Laureates at St Birinus School. They’ve created two impactful and uniquely different poems, for their latest commission. When I read World’s poem in particular, I feelContinue reading “Writing/right-ing Injustice”
Category Archives: Poetry
Contact: new poems by the SBS Poet Laureates
‘Contact’ was the last commission given to Ianto Carter and Elliott World, this year’s Poet Laureates at St Birinus School. It feels like a relevant and timely theme to reflect on, as England continues in national lockdown. It continues to be a struggle to maintain enough contact with others. And how much social contact isContinue reading “Contact: new poems by the SBS Poet Laureates”
Poets of 2021
I’d like you to meet the Saint Birinus School new Poet Laureate team: Ianto Carter and Elliott World. They’ll be writing back to their experiences, thoughts and the world in general, over the course of this year, with me guiding and mentoring them in their writing. I’m already excited by the way Ianto and ElliottContinue reading “Poets of 2021”
Can’t wait to introduce you…
…to the fabulous two young writers who have been selected as Poet Laureate at Didcot Girls’ School, for 2020-21! I get the opportunity to mentor them this year and I’m pretty happy about that. I reckon the best way for you to start to get to know them, is to hear what they have toContinue reading “Can’t wait to introduce you…”
Lockdown – it gives us poetry
It’s time to enjoy the last poems of the school year, from young Didcot Girls’ School Poet Laureates Keira Mason (year 8) and Iris Rogers (year 11). These two have learned a lot this year and it’s been special for me to mentor them in their poetry. Mentoring is always a two-way street and I’veContinue reading “Lockdown – it gives us poetry”
Heart-stopping words from our SBS School Poet Laureate…
Frustratingly, our St Birinus School Poet Laureates didn’t get the chance to perform their poems to the school community this term, due to school closures. However, school closures definitely don’t stop us from being, from thinking and creating … and here’s the proof: Please take a moment to stop and take in this latest commissionedContinue reading “Heart-stopping words from our SBS School Poet Laureate…”
Where my heart lies in the darkness of my safe space: the poetry workshops continue…
I’m now 8 hours and 180 students in to my poetry workshops at Didcot Girls’ School, with year 9. It’s been brilliant, and there’s still more to come. There has been a vast amount of creativity, imagination and powerful writing in all the sessions. I’ve been lucky enough to work with all groups across theContinue reading “Where my heart lies in the darkness of my safe space: the poetry workshops continue…”
National Poetry Day 2019
With my Didcot Girls’ School Patron of Writing hat on, I had a lot of fun planning a poetry takeover for National Poetry Day. The students explored the life and words of environmental activist, Greta Thunberg, and wrote poems inspired by her, around the theme of climate change. Please enjoy these poems, created by yearContinue reading “National Poetry Day 2019”
Where my heart lies in the darkness of my safe space: creating safe writing spaces in the classroom
How do we change young people’s perceptions about poetry? How do we remove the blocks, the clamps that weigh us down, make us so fearful of writing freely? How can we release the incredible potential of the next generation’s creativity? These are all issues that I seek to open, challenge and address in my poetryContinue reading “Where my heart lies in the darkness of my safe space: creating safe writing spaces in the classroom”
‘under the sun’s rare brilliance’ – a final Patron of Writing update for 2018/19
I’ve genuinely loved every moment of being DGS Patron of Writing for 2018/19. It remains an awesome privilege for me to crack open some space in the school day for creativity and writing. And I’m absolutely thrilled to be returning next year – so watch out, next year’s Year 9, poetry is coming for youContinue reading “‘under the sun’s rare brilliance’ – a final Patron of Writing update for 2018/19”
Elaine Baker - Poet 