National Poetry Day 2012 saw Haybridge High School & Sixth Form, Hagley, play host to nationally-acclaimed poet and writer Simon Armitage for a day of workshops and readings to students, staff and parents.

The award winning poet and performer, who features on GCSE and A level English Literature syllabuses, spent the afternoon with Haybridge Year 12 English Language and Literature students, studying some of his poems as well as writing new work together. Sarah Williams, Head of English at Haybridge said “This was a wonderful opportunity for students to engage with a world class poet. It will not just benefit their academic studies, but will also enable them to see poetry as something vibrant, exciting and enjoyable.”

Following the writing workshop Mr Armitage delivered a public reading to almost 200 students, staff and parents. Haybridge’s partner schools Baxter College and Hagley Catholic High School, from The ContinU Trust of Wyre Forest and Hagley, as well as Kingsley College, Redditch, sent student representatives from various year groups to take part in the reading and the event closed with a lively question and answer session.

Rebecca Davey, Yr 12 student at Haybridge, said "We thoroughly enjoyed meeting Simon Armitage; the workshop and the reading later on were fun, as well as engaging and educational."