Poetry Slam Bootcamp

Competing teams meet for workshop before Slam Final

Following our three hugely-successful Poetry Slam days across all schools in The White Rose Academies Trust, three winning teams came together for the first time for a Poetry Slam Bootcamp at Leeds City Academy.

Students were thrilled to work once again with highly-acclaimed poet, BBC Radio 1 broadcaster and lead singer of Middleman, Andy Craven-Griffiths. He was joined by fellow artist John Berkavitch; spoken word and dance theatre specialist.

Students spent the day extending their written pieces and exploring performance techniques, beatboxing, timing, action and expression.

The White Rose Academies Trust Poetry Slam Final will be broadcast live-on-air at Chapel FM on March 30th at 7:30pm - 8:30pm. Listeners will be invited to post comments and feedback via Twitter and Chapel FM's website as the three Academies go head-to-head before a panel of expert judges, who will grapple with the difficult task of selecting a winner.

For four days this spring, Chapel FM hosts a raft of great writing from across Yorkshire. 'Writing on Air' takes place on 30th March and delivers the air space to young writers. Featuring the live and recorded Poetry Slam, it also feature topical discussion, short stories and fantasy writing from local writers aged 9 to 23. For more details visit www.chapelFM.co.uk.

Mr Whitaker, Executive Principal of The White Rose Academies Trust, said: "The Poetry Slam event not only allows our students to develop their unique skills in performance poetry, it also provides a very special opportunity for our young people from across Leeds to join together and share their views and life experiences. We thank Andy Craven-Griffiths and John Berkavitch for inspiring our students and we especially thank our outstanding Academy Librarians Ms Dingwall, Ms Harness and Ms Walker."

Be sure to tune in on 30th March. For further details visit Chapel FM here.