I run poetry workshops in schools (primary and secondary) and colleges. If you are interested in having me attend your school please contact me at mail@ashdickinson.com. I am happy to provide you with details of costs and lesson plans, and can tailor a workshop to any ideas you may wish to explore. I'm on a crusade to make poetry accessible and relevant, to engage and enthuse the students and to help them to have fun with words and language.
Like a number of people I speak to, I didn't particularly enjoy poetry when I was younger. It didn't seem to speak to me as a child of school age. Through performing and informing and the use of inspiring and interesting exercises, I aim to challenge common perceptions of poetry. It is my aim to inspire, entertain, engage and to hopefully provide a day students (and staff) will both enjoy and remember.
School Testimonials
“Ash was a pleasure to work with. The students were inspired by his work and thoroughly enjoyed the sessions. If you are looking for a poet who can enthuse and motivate students to write, play with language and perform in front of others, book him soon before the waiting list gets too long!” - Treviglas Community College, Cornwall
“Ash was an inspiration to staff and pupils alike. The workshops offered a structured approach to writing and yet allowed freedom and time for the students to get something worth performing written. I will certainly be inviting Ash back- attitudes towards poetry need a good shake-up and Ash is the man for the job” - Reigate Grammar, Surrey
“Ash's readings and spin-off activities kept all the students, from years 7 through to 13- and indeed the teachers too!- totally engaged. Living proof that poetry is accessible, thriving and above all, can be fun! A thoroughly enjoyable and valuable experience which we will definitely repeat. Highly recommended” - Lincoln Christs Hospital School, Lincolnshire
“Ash is great working in an educational environment. The kids think he's cool, we all love his poetry and he's really flexible and proactive. We intend having him back for a third straight year- if he's available!” - St Mary's Catholic School, Hertfordshire
“Ash galvanised our Year 11 classes, he engaged them immediately. His performance was electrifying; he was witty and charming and also surprised us by his ability to analyse the poems which our pupils are studying for GCSE English in a technical sense. The group work which he set up was particularly effective - we will definitely book him again” - Abbey College, Cambridgeshire
“We invited Ash to help revise multicultural poetry. Boring? Ash wasn't. He lead the students into subtle relationships with the poems, was a natural teacher and had an excellent rapport with the students. I can warmly recommend him.” - Broadland High School, Norfolk
“Ash did a fantastic job- students who find poetry difficult to access were instantly engaged and experimented for themselves. I was impressed that his approach worked across the range of ages and abilities. We will be in touch soon to book a return visit!" - Budmouth Technology College, Dorset
“Working with Ash was inspirational and exciting. So many children think poetry is boring and conventional; Ash breathed new life and excitement into it and both our students and the primary pupils had the time of their lives. Ash's performances, humour and boundless creativity made the two days a joy!” - Newland School for Girls, East Yorkshire
“Ash's passion for poetry was evident throughout and the activities he incorporated made a fantastic foundation for further work in class. My Year 5 pupils thoroughly enjoyed the experience.” - Belmont School, Middlesex
“Converting 400 students to poetry really can really feel like mission impossible. It was great to see our Year 11 students asking questions about poetry and have our Year 8 students laughing and giggling at Ash's great wordplay. Mission accomplished!” - Magnus School, Nottinghamshire
“Our children were inspired and thoroughly motivated to write some amazing pieces of poetry. The session with Ash was upbeat, fun and accessible for everyone.” - Sidmouth Primary School, East Yorkshire
“Clearly comfortable working with young people, Ash's infectious enthusiasm had all our students, regardless of age, laughing, composing and performing- some even wanted to share their creativity in assembly the following day!” - Rudheath Community High School, Cheshire
“Our students were left with lots of inspiration following Ash's visit and a new perspective towards approaching poetry. Importantly, many of our students who normally put up barriers to poetry went away after Ash's visit and wrote some truly fantastic verse!” - Bromfords School, Essex
“Sceptics were won over quickly by the energy and rhythms of Ash's performance. He convinced all present that poetry need not be dry, academic study but can provide lively, amusing entertainment. He persuaded the audience that they too might succumb to the magic of poetry and find their lives transformed for the better” - Stowe School, Buckinghamshire
“Ash was reliable, organised and brought his and the students' poetry to life in a way that is hard for teachers to do. He tailored his sessions to our needs and brought out the best in our students. He was great to work with.” - Redhill School, Nottinghamshire
“The creative work inspired by Ash's visit showed a liveliness and sense of audience which students wouldn't have used without seeing Ash perform. Ash's visit was a highlight of the term and students are still talking about it. We would most definitely invite him back again” - William Farr School, Lincolnshire
“Ash was incredible- the pupils were inspired, his delivery was very entertaining and we've unearthed some unlikely but gifted poets amongst our Year 9 pupils!” - Priory Academy, Lincolnshire
“Our students and teachers thoroughly enjoyed Ash's visit! His performances were excellent and the students were fully engaged. Ash provided them with the confidence and enthusiasm to write their own masterpieces in lively workshop sessions - a real buzz! We're definitely looking forward to a repeat performance!” - Hertswood School, Hertfordshire
“Ash was great; the students responded to him warmly and found his performance engaging and funny. They found the workshop inspiring and it gave them a fresh perspective on poetry. Highly recommended” - High Storrs, South Yorkshire
“Ash Dickinson delivered a highly entertaining and educational workshop, including performances of his own poems. Ash introduced the startled (and amused!) Year 8s to the beauty of language, resulting in some great original poetry from the pupils” - School Newsletter, Clere School, Berkshire
“Ash was a breath of fresh air. His poetry was fantastic and the workshops were enjoyed by pupils and staff alike. We can't wait for a return visit" - Long Stretton High School, Norfolk
“Ash's poems and activities fed into our work on rhythm, rhyme and repetition perfectly. Everyone felt comfortable, and the most unlikely of students got up to perform. A fun, funny and diverting day!”- Samworth Enterprise Academy, Leicestershire
“Ash really had the wow factor with our students. Pacy, cunning and punning, students were talking about his performance for days afterwards. He changed a lot of students' perceptions and left many keen to have a go themselves”- Tytherington High School, Cheshire
“There has been a lot of very positive, enthusiastic feedback from Years 7 and 10, the pupils really enjoyed the day, and the teachers too! We would certainly hope to have Ash back in the future”- Wetherby High School, West Yorkshire
“It was a pleasure to have Ash into the school. I certainly don't think any of the students think poetry is boring anymore!” - Ranelagh School, Berkshire
“Ash visited our school and worked with our Year 7s. It was a really fun and productive day. The pupils were engaged and students of all abilities produced some truly excellent writing”- The Foulstone School, South Yorkshire
“Ash entertained and inspired our Year 8 and 9 pupils all morning with anecdotes about poetry writing interspersed with striking performances of his own poetry” - Queen Elizabeth's Hospital School, Bristol
“Thanks for coming to BGS, love your poetry, you think you'll be able to come back next year? You were truly great :) - Student, Bradford Grammar School, West Yorkshire (posted to my Facebook group page)
“You came to my school last week. I thought you were really inspirational! I loved listening to your poetry!” - Student, William Farr (emailed to my Myspace page)
“I didn't really enjoy poems before today but now that I have learned a new way of writing and listening to them they sound so much more interesting to me!” - Student, The Wildern School, Hampshire (posted to my Facebook group page)
“Today was amazing, your poetry was amazing” - Student, Salisbury High School, Wiltshire (posted to my Facebook group page)
“I thought you were ace...you inspired...you are a bit of a genius if you don't mind me saying so" - Student, Lincoln Christs Hospital School (emailed to my Myspace page)
“You were so good I couldn't believe it" - Student, Selston Arts College, Nottinghamshire (emailed to my website)
“You're amazing, I love your poems” - Student, Knights Templar School, Hertfordshire (posted to my Facebook group page)
“I never knew poetry could be so interesting!" - Student, Abbot's Hill School, Hertfordshire (emailed to my website)
“Your poetry was amazing, and funny! I think your trip to my school was brilliant, and you might like to know I have started writing poetry- I've written 2 already! You are a true inspiration!" - Student, Thurston Community College, Suffolk (posted to my Facebook Group)
“Thank you for the great poetry workshop you organised for us on Monday, it was amazing. It inspired us all to do a lot more poetry” - Student, Settle Middle School, North Yorkshire (emailed to my website)
“I would just like to thank you for your help. I didn't think I could write poems but I was really proud of my end result." - Student, Peele Community College, Lincolnshire (posted to my Facebook Group)
“Ash, you're so funny and cool, I love your poems" - Student, Robert Pattinson School, Lincolnshire (posted to my Facebook Group)
“Hi, just writing to say how much I enjoyed the poetry lesson at the Minster School. I thought your poems were great. I don't usually like poetry but your lesson was fun.”- Student, Minster School, Nottinghamshire (emailed to my website)
“I really enjoyed it when you came to my school the other day, you are a really good poet" - Student, Penryn College, Cornwall (posted to my Facebook Group)
“I saw this guy perform at Clevedon sixth form and he was top notch” - Student, Clevedon School, Somerset (Myspace comment)
“Thanks so much for coming. I have never been a big fan of poetry but you have inspired me to write it now. Fab!"- Student, Priory Academy, Lincolnshire (emailed to my website)