Poets in schools questionnaire

Please copy and paste the questions below into an email and send, along with your answers, to adavies@poetrysociety.org.uk

Name:
Name of school or organisation:
Address:
Email:
Phone number:

Please describe the length and frequency of the visit you wish to take place.
(Eg. a one-off full day, or an hour long afterschool club one day a week for five weeks):

When would you like the visit to take place? Please be as specific as you can:

Which year group(s) would you want the poet to work with?
(Remember the poet would not be able to cover every class in one day! The poet might do an introductory reading/assembly and then three writing workshops (covering 3 double lessons) for particular classes/groups as a maximum. However the benefit to pupils is greater when a poet is able to work with a group over a longer period. The structure for the day is negotiable with the poet, of course. If you already have an idea of how you would like the day to be structured, please let us know):

How many students do you envisage being in a workshop with the poet at one time?
(We strongly recommend that there aren't more than 25-30 students in one workshop, and if it is possible to lower the numbers to 15-20, this will ensure that each pupil is able to feel the full benefits of a poet visit):

Is there a particular theme that you would like to cover, or specific areas of learning that you'd like the poet to address?

Are there any target groups that you would like the poet to work with?
(Gifted and Talented students, SEN students, emotional/behavioural difficulties, etc):

Are you looking for a specific type of poet?

Is your school a member of The Poetry Society?
(Our Poets in Schools service is free to school members. We charge a small fee of £25 to non-members to cover our costs):

Is there anything else you would like to tell us about the visit?

 

Important information when booking a poet 
 

How much will it cost to bring a poet into our school?

In general, poets who work in schools charge the 'standard' daily rate that begins around £300 per day. Travel expenses are charged on top of this fee. Well-known poets can be more difficult to book, and their daily rate for schools work is in the £500-£800 bracket. If you want to approach one of the big names, we can pass on their agent's contact details.

 

All payment for the poet should be settled between the school and poet directly. The poet will usually invoice the school after or on the day of the visit. 

The Poetry Society levies a small charge of £25 for facilitating a poet's visit to your school. However our services are free to school members of the Poetry Society. School membership costs £40 for primary schools and £58 secondary schools, for which the schools receive poetry books, classroom posters, lesson plans, Poetry News, Poetry Review (secondary schools only) and Poems on the Underground posters. 

Find out more about SCHOOL MEMBERSHIP 

 

How should we prepare for the visit once the poet has been booked?

Before the visit:

  • Fees should be agreed in advance, and the procedure explained for claiming expenses. The method and time of payment should also be arranged.
  • Public liability insurance is available to poets working in schools through the Arts Council of England, so ask if your poet is insured.
  • Make sure you have agreed the schedule for the day with the poet. It can be tempting to try and squeeze in as many workshops as possible but it is important to make sure pupils have enough time to work meaningfully with the poet. One reading (perhaps in assembly) and two or three workshops with small groups is a realistic maximum.  
  • To get the most from the visit, be clear about what you want. If you are looking for an entertainer for an end-of-term event or a presentation on careers - let the poet know.
  • Make sure you are aware of the poet's published work.
  • Make the poet's collections available to pupils, possibly on display. 
  • Let pupils prepare some questions they would like to ask.

Send the poet the following information:

  • Details on how to find you and what lunch arrangements have been made.
  • A timetable for the day, showing break times, assemblies, workshops and readings.  Include information about group sizes and ages.
  • Information on what kind of texts students have been reading and writing recently.
  • The name of the key teacher who is organising the day, and who they can turn to if they need any further information or support.   
     

Ask the poet for the following information:

How they would like to be introduced and how they would like the children to address them

  • Ask if the have any dietary or special needs.   

 

What can we do in terms of follow-up after the visit?

  • Make sure the pupils have time to finish off writing tasks they began with the writer.
  • If your students are between ages 11 – 17, submit poems for the Foyle Young Poets of the Year Award, the UK's leading competition for young poets. Your students can enter as many poems as they like, of any length, on any theme. Visit www.foyleyoungpoets.org for more details.
  • Join the Poetry Society. Your whole school will benefit from Poetry Society School Membership that includes free access to our poets in schools consultancy service, books, exclusive lesson plans, subscription to Poems on the Underground posters and more. Click here for more details, or phone 020 7420 9889.
  • Display the students' finished work, make a school anthology, or prepare a reading for parents or governors.
  • Writers of all ages are motivated by the possibility of publication. Perhaps your local paper would feature a story?
  • Poetry Society Schools Members and Youth Members can submit work for publication on our Youth Pages. Contact us for further details.

Any further questions?

Please email the Education Coordinator, Ally Davies.