Celebrating World Poetry Day Across Leverhulme Trust
Monday, 23rd March 2026 
Schools across Leverhulme Academy Trust came together this March to celebrate World Poetry Day 2026, highlighting a shared focus on developing a love of poetry, strengthening oracy skills and building confidence in performance.
Pupils and staff from Lostock Primary School, Rivington and Blackrod High School and Sixth Form, and Harper Green School worked alongside partner schools The Gates Primary School and The Oaks Primary School as part of a wider Trust focus on oracy. Together, schools aimed to immerse pupils in a diverse range of poetry while providing meaningful opportunities to perform, speak and express themselves.
Across the Trust, pupils explored poetry from a range of cultures, time periods and voices. Classrooms and halls were filled with enthusiastic recitals, thoughtful writing and confident performances, supporting the development of communication, expression and self-confidence.
At Lostock Primary School, pupils took centre stage in a Performance Poetry Assembly. Each class learned and performed a poem, with representatives sharing their work with the whole school. From Reception’s The Grand Old Duke of York to Year 6’s Homework! Oh Homework!, pupils demonstrated impressive expression, pitch and physicality, with poems reflecting a diverse range of authors and voices.
Matilda, a Year 6 pupil, said: “Performing my poem in a funny way has made me want to read more poetry now I know how much fun poetry can be.”
At Rivington and Blackrod High School and Sixth Form, poetry was brought into everyday spaces, with displays in the canteen showcasing students’ engagement. Dedicated reading sessions also gave students the opportunity to explore poetry together, reinforcing the Trust’s commitment to reading and oracy across the curriculum.
Harper Green School saw an overwhelming response, with over 60 entries submitted to a school-wide poetry competition following targeted English lessons and workshops. Winners will perform their work as part of a celebratory event. A highlight of the week was a visit from local author Oliver Lomax, who led a workshop and praised the pupils’ creativity: “The pupils shared such honest, searching and unique writing, I was really blown away, excited to read the work in the coming weeks. It really meant a lot to me to connect with them all, and work in a school so close to where I was brought up.”
Abeeha, a Year 9 pupil, reflected: “I never knew that I was a poet, but now that I know, I'm excited about what I'm going to create.”
At The Gates Primary School, pupils prepared for their recital by rehearsing performances and creating props, while at The Oaks Primary School, children embraced the opportunity to perform poetry in a whole-school assembly.
This collective celebration highlights the power of collaboration across the Trust. By placing oracy and creativity at the heart of the curriculum, schools are not only nurturing a love of poetry but also equipping pupils with the confidence and communication skills that will support them far beyond the classroom.
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