TO CELEBRATE National Poetry Day, pupils at St John’s C of E Primary School took part in a lunchtime poetry club organised by the school’s Reading Champions group.

Children from across the school gathered to create their own acrostic poems, exploring themes such as autumn, nature, flowers, and self-expression using their names. The activity encouraged pupils to engage with poetry and develop their creativity through writing.

National Poetry Day, held on Thursday, October 2, celebrated the theme of “Play.” The annual UK-wide event, founded by the Forward Arts Foundation, aims to inspire people to create, experience, and share poetry in schools, libraries, and online.

The Reading Champions, a group of pupils who promote reading across the school, organised the event. To become a Reading Champion, pupils were invited to write letters of application to Mrs Monks, the Deputy Headteacher, outlining their interest in the role.

The Reading Champions aim to encourage their peers to engage with reading and to promote literacy across all year groups. They plan to organise further activities, including holiday reading challenges, book reviews, and reading recommendations to support and inspire others.

Their leadership and enthusiasm are already making a positive impact on the school’s reading culture. Mrs Monks praised the group’s initiative, she said: “It’s wonderful to see our pupils take such an active role in promoting reading. Events like the poetry club not only celebrate National Poetry Day but also help to build a lifelong love of literature.”

By taking part in events like National Poetry Day, the school continues to encourage children to explore language in new ways and to take pride in sharing their own ideas. With the Reading Champions leading by example, pupils are developing not only their reading and writing abilities but also their enthusiasm for learning as a whole.