Young poets from Ormiston Beachcroft Academy, Ormiston Latimer Academy, Ormiston Bridge Academy, and other local academies joined on stage at the Royal Albert Hall to launch their very own published poems.
The event marked the culmination of three years of collaborative efforts to create a poetry anthology from the three alternative provisions (AP), and learners from the Complete Works School, Kensington Aldridge Academy and Seaford Head Secondary School. The project provides an important platform for learners from challenging backgrounds to showcase their poetic talents through a series of poetry workshops and collaborations as part of their wider curriculum.
As part of the launch, the budding writers came together for a day filled with dynamic drama activities and spoken word poetry workshops delivered by the renowned poet educator, Christian Foley, who led the learners through engaging writing exercises, celebrating their expressive voices and breaking down barriers through the power of words.
The learners even got to experience a guided tour of the Royal Albert Hall’s prestigious auditorium and Royal Box, and one lucky student captivated the audience with a performance on the Big Red Yamaha Piano, famously played by Elton John.
Stepping on stage, the proud poets read pieces from their anthology, ‘I Run My Hand Through Water’, including poignant pieces from former students. One pupil, Shehroz, delivered a beautiful reading of a poem, written by a former Beachcroft pupil who tragically passed away last summer, which added an emotional depth to the day.
In the audience, friends and supportive classmates were in awe of the performance celebrating the power of poetry and the boundless creativity of young minds.
One pupil from Ormiston Bridge Academy, Sofia, said: “I was more than happy to see my artwork published in a book. The Royal Albert Hall was amazing, the activities were lovely, and the best bit of the day was the games where we got to know each other.”
Supported by the TS Eliot Foundation and the Ormiston Trust, in collaboration with renowned poets Christian Foley and Laurence Kidd, the transformative project is aimed at fostering a vibrant community of young writers as part of Ormiston Academies Trust’s commitment to delivering the best possible educational opportunities for young people, regardless of background.
Cass, a primary pupil from Ormiston Beachcroft Academy, said: “I liked it when we published the book and people read the poems. I’d like to thank the Royal Albert Hall for having us and giving us a tour. It was like a new world in there, everything was gold.”
Michelle Burgess-Allen, Principal at Ormiston Beachcroft Academy, said: “This has been such an incredible and important project for pupils across the area, helping them to access the arts, unlock their creative passions, and share their talents on the big stage. We’d like to say a huge thank you to the TS Eliot Foundation, Ormiston Trust, Christian Foley and Laurence Kidd who made this amazing opportunity possible.
“Across Ormiston Academies Trust, and our alternative provisions, we hold a really strong commitment to empowering young voices from the most challenging backgrounds. Occasions such as these, where our young people can see themselves and their peers on such prestigious stages, are a testament to this and we’ve loved seeing how pupils have truly thrived as part of this.”
Featured photograph (Royal Albert Hall) by David Iliff. License: CC BY-SA 3.0.