A PEACE-themed poetry workshop at a Forest school last week, gave Year Seven and Eight pupils a chance to work with a published author and poet, thanks to funding.

Fiona Sampson, who visited the Dean Academy in Lydney, has written many books on literature and language as well as various collections of poetry, for which she has received international awards.

Victoria Pearce, spokesperson for the school, said: “We were thrilled to receive a visit from Fiona as part of a special creative writing workshop about peace, funded by the Arts Council.

“Throughout the session, students were given various fun and interactive tasks designed to make them think about the world around them. They were then asked to express their thoughts through the medium of poetry which they could share aloud with the group.

“We were really spoilt to have had the opportunity not only to meet but to work with and learn from such a phenomenal author.

“The workshops were a truly eye-opening way to explore the writing of poetry from different angles and perspectives and our students have learnt techniques and methods that will stay with them forever.”

Leah Cross, events and education manager for the Royal Society of Literature, which helped to organise the event, added “Fiona’s visit to the school was part of an initiative of the literacy charity First Story, which sends professional writers to state schools to inspire young people across the country to pick up a pen and start writing.

“The sessions are designed to interest young people in both reading and writing and to give them a positive experience of creative writing with a focus on poetry.

“With the centenary of the death of Wilfred Owen and the end of the First World War, we felt that the theme of the workshop should be about peace rather than war.”