School Workshops
New! The Wonder of Poetry – National Poetry Day 2026
Every year, we develop workshops to tie in with the annual theme of National Poetry Day – and these meet with huge success right across the country. This year is no different – and we’re delighted to announce that we have a whole range of programmes to tie in with the 2026 theme of Wonder: The Wonder of Poetry!
Introduction
Poetry exemplifies both meanings of the word “wonderful” – because it can be “wonderful” in its own right, whilst giving us a way of expressing questions, both big and small, that show how we wonder about the world around us. Designed to take the sometimes intimidating sting out of poetry, The Wonder of Poetry lets pupils explore for themselves both definitions by crafting words into poems.
| Year Groups | EYFS-Y6 |
|---|---|
| Curriculum | Poetry |
| Duration | Multiple workshops over one day |
| Space | Large space required eg hall or drama studio. |
Workshop Testimonials
“All the feedback from the teachers and pupils -across illustrated a very enjoyed day. Joe’s ability to think on the spot and deliver to a variety of needs and age groups! This is a very much a workshop and experience we would like to introduce to King’s Court on an annual basis. Thank you very much!”
“The whole school has thoroughly enjoyed having you here today and it’s been great to hear all the pupils talking so animatedly about your workshops and the poems they created.”
“The girls at Glendower LOVED the workshops! – they enjoyed the workshops immensely and thought the facilitator was fantastic! – they gained confidence around poetry, in addition to understanding the freedom attached to the concept of creating their own poem. We can’t wait to have you back!”
“Thomas Buxton really enjoyed celebrating National Poetry day this year. Thank you to who came in to help us write and perform our own poems about the environment. We love poetry! “
“I wanted to take a moment to express our gratitude for your incredible delivery of National Poetry Day workshops. Your passion for poetry was clear, and every single one of the teachers spoke highly of you and your sessions. Similarly, the children were buzzing with excitement- I have received messages from parents about pupils’ enjoyment as well. It was a great day, and I look forward to your next visit.”
The Wonder of Poetry:
Primary Schools
The Wonder of Poetry can accommodate the whole of up to a two-form entry school in a single day: an assembly at which a member of our team explores with the children the two meanings of the word “wonderful” and shares a favourite poem – and workshops for each year group culminating in collaborative poems.
We will send you designed and illustrated versions of all the collaborative poems.
EYFS and KS1 / P1 – P3: Our Wonderful World … children are supported in thinking about and sharing what fills them with “wonder” – from the minibeasts in the school grounds to the cosmos itself, taking in anything else they can think of themselves! After playing a game to crystallise their ideas around four themes, they then work together to create a collaborative rhyming poem, “Our Wonderful World!”
Years 3 & 4 / P4 & P5: Wonders of the World … by thinking of some amazing buildings and structures around the world, children are both reminded of the power of “wonder” and invited to wonder for themselves, by asking questions about the structures. These are then threaded together to create a wonderful collaborative rhyming poem, “Wonders of the World”
Years 5 & 6 / P6 & P7: Acrostic Wonders … through thinking about the people behind some amazing inventions and discoveries, pupils remind themselves of the power of asking questions – of “wondering”. As a group, they collectively decide on three of the inventors – and, after learning more about their chosen individuals through a drama-based game, they write and perform a collaborative acrostic poem spelling out, “Wonder!”
The Wonder of Poetry: Secondary Schools
The Wonder of Poetry can accommodate up to 60 KS3/4 / S1-S5 students at a time, in workshops lasting from a single lesson, allowing a member of our team to work with a large number of students in just one day. It’s also possible, too, to deliver longer, more in depth workshops to fewer groups.
After playing a game challenging both their rhyming skills and their knowledge of some landmark moments in the history of humanity, including the discovery of fire, the Industrial Revolution and first humans on the moon. Students collaboratively craft the first six lines of a sonnet – a paean to the power of wonder – before working individually, in pairs or in threes to complete their poems.
We will send you designed and illustrated versions of all the collaborative poems.
Workshop FAQs
What is the format of the day?
We will work with you to plan a timetable for the workshops, to suit the number of classes you would like to include – and around the specific timings of your school day. In a two-form entry primary school (with all year groups apart from Reception taking part in groups of up-to 60), the timetable might look like this:
09.00 – 09.20: (optional) Whole-school assembly, where your visitor will introduce the day…
09.20 – 10.00: Year 1 stay in the hall for their workshop …
10.00 – 10.40: Year 2 come to the hall for their workshop …
10.40 – 11.20: Year 3 come to the hall for their workshop …
11.20 – 11.50: One Reception class have a visit, in their own setting …
LUNCH
1.00 – 1.30: The other Reception class have a visit, in their own setting …
1.30 – 2.10: Year 4 come to the hall for their workshop …
2.10 – 2.50: Year 5 come to the hall for their workshop …
2.50 – 3.30: Year 6 come to the hall for their workshop.
What kind of space is required?
For groups of over 30, a large open space such as the school hall is required.
Are there any technical requirements?
Your visitor will need access to a laptop/ screen/projector set up in the school hall, so that pupils can view the supporting PowerPoint.
Related Poetry Workshops
A Celebration in Rhyme
Working with up to 420 children to create and perform a School Poem in just one day!
Personification Poetry
Students will harvest the fruits of their imaginations and explore notions of empathy to construct uniquely moving poetry.
Soundscape Poetry
Those pupils who said they don’t like poetry will be writing furiously at the end of this magical workshop.