Thirty of Stretford Grammar School’s bright Key Stage 3 English students enjoyed a fantastic day of verse and performance at the recent Poetry Together Workshop, held on Friday, 14th November 2025, at the iconic Aviva Studios in Manchester.

The trip was designed to encourage our English students to actively engage with analysing and performing poetry, skills that are vital components of the KS3 English Curriculum and crucial for their long-term academic success.

A Day of Oracy and Inspiration

The students spent the day immersed in a range of interactive and high-energy workshops, with a primary focus on developing their literacy and oracy skills. These skills are not only fundamental for their ongoing studies in English but are also essential preparation for the Spoken Language Accreditation they will complete as part of their GCSE English Language studies. The event, compered by author and broadcaster Gyles Brandreth, included workshops and performances led by acclaimed poets, including the multi-award-winning Manchester-based poet Matt Goodfellow and performance poet Nicole May.

A Powerful Inter-Generational Project

The Poetry Together initiative, the brainchild of Gyles Brandreth and supported by Her Majesty Queen Camilla, aims to bring the young and older generations together through the shared joy of poetry. The national project encourages schools to partner with local care homes or community groups to learn, recite, and share poems over tea and cake. The organisers, Dukes Education, state that the initiative focuses on the powerful benefits of learning poetry by heart, which studies show enhances language skills, improves memory, and helps bridge the gap between generations.

Mrs Murphy, School Librarian, who instigated the school's involvement in the event, highlighted the value of the experience:

“I saw the potential of the Poetry Together initiative to truly bring learning to life beyond the classroom. It’s about so much more than memorisation; it’s about confidence, connection, and finding a voice. Bringing our students to Aviva Studios to work with such talented poets has been an incredible opportunity for them to see the real-world application of their English skills.”

Mrs Baker, English Teacher and Progress Leader for Year 8, reflected on the positive impact of the day:

“The enthusiasm and courage shown by our KS3 students at Aviva Studios was truly inspiring. Working with poets of the calibre of Matt Goodfellow and Nicole May allows them to see poetry not just as a written text, but as a vibrant, living form of self-expression."

The day was a resounding success, proving that poetry is a powerful and fun medium for connecting, performing, and developing essential communication skills.