Themed around ‘Nature’, the day began with pupils exploring our 54-acre campus — from the sparkling lake and ancient woodland to flourishing wildlife and parkland — using these surroundings as rich inspiration for their poetry. Working in their school groups, pupils brainstormed ideas, crafted original nature-inspired poems, and rehearsed their performances throughout the day.

We were thrilled to welcome children and staff from the following schools:

• Beenham Primary School

• Birch Copse Primary School

• Cold Ash St Mark’s

• Great Bedwyn C of E School

• Mortimer St Mary’s

• St Finian’s Catholic Primary School

• Overton C of E Primary School

• Speenhamland School

• Four Lanes Community Junior School

• Calcot Primary School

The event was led by the English Department and spearheaded by Head of Drama and Director of Partnerships, Ruth Chaplin, who commented:

"It was a joy to launch our first Poetry to Performance Day and to see so many pupils from across the local community come together. They showed incredible imagination, collaboration and confidence. Events like this not only celebrate creativity, but also help forge connections between schools — and what better setting than the outdoors to spark inspiration. The talent and enthusiasm on display was truly phenomenal."

Parents were invited to join us at the end of the day to enjoy refreshments and a final performance showcase, where pupils proudly presented their poetry to an appreciative audience of family members, teachers, and peers.

As a parting gift — and a symbol of continued creativity and care for the environment — each child received a sunflower seed-growing kit to take home, encouraging them to keep nurturing their love for nature and the arts.

We are incredibly grateful to all the pupils, teachers, and schools who helped make the day such a success. We look forward to building on this new tradition in the years to come.