A methodology for a new approach to increasing engagement with poetry, grounded in student leadership and relationship-building
We will begin with a brief overview of where the Young Poet Leaders programme has come from, including our findings from working with schools in Barking & Dagenham, London.
We will then go on to look at how we can use poetry in the English classroom and beyond to develop leadership skills, especially confidence, self-expression and relationship-building.
By the end of this webinar you will:
- Develop an awareness of current trends in poetry engagement among children and young people in the UK
- Expand our definition of student leadership to ensure all learners have opportunities to develop in this area
- Reflect on our own practice in the area of student-led activity and create one goal for developing this in our own roles
Before the webinar, please explore:
- Blog post about the first phase of the project in 2024
- National trends on students engaging with poetry
After the webinar, you’ll receive the recording of the webinar; a list of suggested further reading; and a series of reflection questions/writing prompts to support you in linking the content of the webinar back in to your practice.
Speakers
Emma has worked in schools since 2018, first as an English teacher in Aotearoa NZ then the UK, and is currently the Project Lead for the Young Poet Leaders programme. Emma has a particular interest in developing student leadership as a way to empower students
Henna is an English teacher at Eastbury Community School, Barking, London. She has been supporting the Young Poet Leaders group in her school since February 2025, meeting weekly with students and helping guide the planning and implementation of their poetry initiatives.
