Plantsbrook School poetry workshop: Students learned all about the power of the spoken word when a celebrated performance poet paid a visit.
Birmingham’s former poet laureate Richard Grant, who is more commonly known as Dreadlock Alien, visited the school to hold a day of workshops with Year 7, 8 and 9 students.
The visit was part of an ongoing partnership between Birmingham City University and the Sutton Coldfield school, which is part of the Broadleaf Partnership Trust.
Assisted by his fellow poet Kurly MC, the celebrated performer encouraged students to write poems in his unique, beat-boxing, rhyming, high-powered performance style, on a number of themes designed to help them navigate their way through school life.
He explained: “It’s all about words and language codes, getting the kids to think about what is acceptable behaviour, and how to talk to and treat each other.
“For the kids in Year 7, we do ‘Bully vs Banter’, because they are at that stage in life where they are not quite sure of what you should and shouldn’t say – is it bullying, or is it just banter?
“For year 8 students, the workshop is called ‘Forbid and Forgive’, where we look at de-escalation, giving them life skills on how to move on when they are involved in conflicts.
“Then, with Year 9 the workshop is called ‘Words of Wisdom’ and gets them to write about what they have learned as older children, and what advice they would give to others.”
Plantsbrook School poetry workshop promotes inclusive languiage
Kurly – also known as Alan McGeachie – added: “It’s about promoting inclusive language too, because language is changing all the while.
“We’ve seen the rise of hate speech nationally, and this is an artistic response to that – giving the children a safe space to write and express themselves.”
Richard and Alan run Memorhyme, a Birmingham-based company that visits schools and helps students connect with the power of the spoken word.
Plantsbrook’s Careers Advisor, Sarah Dullea, said: “Richard and Kurly were brilliant at bringing the children out of their shells, and getting them to not only write poetry but to stand up and read it out.
“It was a great day that I think inspired to students to think about how they talk to each other, and about their place in the school.”