On Monday 6 October, Year 8 had their timetable disrupted. Their faces said it all – 'Any lesson must be better than poetry!’ David Mason, poet and author, accepted the challenge to inspire Year 8 to write poetry and . . . to possibly even get them to enjoy it.
The day began with a poetry performance in the hall. Suspicious eyes began to show a glimmer of interest as the poet walked into the hall wearing a colourful jacket and rather interesting waistcoat. English teachers, senior management and the headteacher crept into the hall – something big was obviously going to happen. Concepts of poetry as 'stuffy and boring’ were blown out of the hall as David launched into a fast, loud and hilarious 'poetry song’ about a West African boarding an alien spaceship and travelling to their planet. It was noted that giggles, even laughter, were heard in the assembly hall.
Plied with water and applause, David did not let up for the whole hour as poems were sung, read and rapped in a variety of accents. A number of pupils had to be restrained before they burst into spontaneous dance. There was definitely the 'sound of poetry’ in the corridors (between lessons!) as pupils went to their next lesson.
A series of workshops took place in the library on Monday and Tuesday (many thanks to Mrs West, who is now a poetry expert!). Even the most resistant Year 8 poets had by now succumbed to the enthusiasm of David. Every single pupil wrote original poetry on a number of themes – please note that the English teachers who could not compete with pupils’ efforts 'pretended’ to be helping. A selection of this poetry will be displayed in the English corridor and will be put together in and Anthology.
Poetry will never be the same again at Fakenham High School. Is it possible to rap Wordsworth in a Scouse accent?
