Each June, local schools in the borough of Hounslow come together to host a poetry slam event. Held over a single day, seven students from each school participate - normally from Year 7. Given a theme to start with, the students collaborate within their groups to draft a poem and rehearse their performance. This event is always a source of great enjoyment, and the students gain invaluable experience by interacting with peers from other schools and performing original works in a limited timeframe.  

In February this year, it was announced that the Poetry Slam event could surpass previous formats in both size and quality. Adam Kammerling, the lead poet who initiated the event, successfully applied for arts funding allowing each school to collaborate with a professional poet over a two-week period. 

The funding was granted to the schools in the Hounslow borough! Zoom meetings were held to organise the pairings of schools and poets, and to discuss schedules and logistics.

At Brentford School for Girls, encouraging students to develop their literacy skills is high on the agenda.  With regular DEAR lessons (drop everything and read), using Lexia to support students who need extra help and organising events and competitions to empower students to be responsible for their progression. Brentford School for Girls is a keen supporter of the Poetry Slam events and this year took all opportunities that were available.

The first workshop at the school involved thirty students who participated in learning how to create and perform a poem for a slam competition. Eight students were then selected to lead the performances at the Poetry Slam final. As participants in the initial workshop, they had the opportunity to refine their work and enhance their performance skills before the big day.

On 27th June, Brentford School for Girls took the students to St. Mark’s School, their hosts for the day. Nerves were high and hearts were pounding—not just for the students, but for the librarian, Mrs O’Sullivan, who accompanied the students! 

The schools took to the stage one group at a time, poised and ready. After all the groups had performed, the judges retreated to deliberate, leaving the students in an anxious wait. 

Finally, the judges returned to announce the winners in reverse order: 3rd place, 2nd place, and in 1st place—Brentford School for Girls. Celebrations erupted as the students, still in disbelief, basked in the reward of their hard work.

Mrs O’Sullivan is extremely proud. She has given students a voice to speak from their hearts and souls, and has instilled confidence in those who might not otherwise engage in school activities. Encouraging them to express their pain on paper, especially when they feel unheard, and then to perform in front of peers and librarians is no small feat. A big shout out goes to Ms. Gill, Administrative Assistant and poet, and to Remi Graves, who brought out the best in the students.

On Thursday 4th July, the Brentford School for Girls community came together to celebrate the remarkable achievements of their top student readers at the Millionaire Word Cupcake Party. This special event honoured students who excelled in the Accelerated Reader program by reading extensively and passing quizzes with flying colours. These dedicated young readers have shown an extraordinary commitment to enhancing their literacy skills, setting an example for their peers. Their hard work and perseverance were rewarded with a delightful cupcake party and each student receiving a free book.

Adding to the excitement, students participated in a thrilling prize draw, with a Kindle awarded as the coveted top prize. The atmosphere was electric, filled with joy, camaraderie, and a shared sense of accomplishment as we celebrated the dedication and success of these outstanding individuals.

Brentford School for Girls are incredibly proud of their student readers and say they look forward to many more celebrations of their academic achievements. They have issued their thanks to everyone who contributed to making this event a resounding success.