School wins award for enriching lives with poetry

A primary school has earned a special award for how it has harnessed the power of poetry to enrich children's lives.

The after-school poetry club at St Nicholas Priory Primary, in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, has grown from five members to 12 dedicated bards.

The club is preparing to travel to the Globe Theatre in London on Monday for the grand final of the national Poetry by Heart competition.

Teacher Sarah Horspole said: "We see children who are perhaps not people who normally would feel confident, talking in front of others who are typically shy - and we see them blossom and they can stand up in front of large audiences and perform."

The Special Award, one of only three to be presented this year, recognises the way the school has used poetry to transform the way the pupils see themselves.

The club meets every week after school to read, write and recite poems.

Horspole added: "We have done very, very well, we are so proud of the children. They are such an asset to the school.

"I think it gives them a freedom of expression... it's nice to have these little moments of slow creativity where the children can explore who they are, where they want to be and how they can express themselves creatively."

Teacher Madeline Coe said performing the poems had helped the children come out of their shells.

She said: "It's really interesting to see them transform themselves in different genres of poetry and different ways of expressing emotion in the poem.

"The arts and poetry are so important for figuring out who you are as a person."

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