IT was pure poetry for Petersfield pupils as bard Simon Armitage gave them chapter and verse on how to excel at English.
And the popular and prolific poet was even able to give the Ditcham Park School students insights into poetry they are studying for their GCSEs – his!
On his visit to the school last week, the fourth and fifth years were invited to quiz him on his poems including Harmonium and The Manhunt, which are on the national curriculum.
And after giving a talk and workshops, he joked that he expected “A stars across the board now”.
The poetry-loving pupils penned a verse, The Oxford Poetry Professor, in honour of Simon. This was inspired by his appointment as Professor of Poetry at Oxford University last year.
This is the second time the poet, who has published award-winning poetry, plays, novels, translations, and books on hiking tour exploits, has visited the school.
He told the Post he was impressed by the “curious pupils” who were well prepared for his visit and had interesting questions to ask.
The former Portsmouth University geography undergraduate said he was also drawn to the Hampshire countryside.
“I had a hankering of nostalgia to come back down this way,” he said. “There’s something very romantic about this part of the world. So, when I saw where the school was on the map…”
Simon has written books on his experiences of walking the Pennine Way and across the south west of England.
And he has his sights on the South Downs.
“I have walked bits of it and it is definitely on my radar. I am not writing another book about walking, but I would try to report it in poetry next time.”
He enjoyed working with young people. “It’s a change from the days gone by when all the poets you studied were dead. It demystifies the role and they can see you’ve got the same number of arms and legs and eyes and everything. And it makes the poems more accessible,” he said.
Head of English Kathy Verghese said the school was very excited to have Simon visit again. “He’s got a brilliant way with children and he really connects with them.”
Student Sophie Jarrett (16) said: “I am not a big fan of English, but I thought he was very good and I do like his work.”
Added Alice Greenwood-Marr (15): “He’s good at making you relate to a situation.”
Betty Reed (16) said: “He used humour and told us stories and got us engaged.”
And Georgina Dickenson (16) said: “I struggle with English but I really like his The Manhunt poem. He made it easier to understand.”