Amazing students and English teacher win prestigious UK poetry award after taking the craft to the streets

The students and Becky Dalziel from The King Alfred School Academy won the ‘special award for outstanding engagement’ in the Poetry By Heart 2019-20 competition.
They beat off hundreds of entries across the country.
Becky had led Burnham and Highbridge’s entry in the which included coverage on the BBC Breakfast programme nationally. Poetry by Heart is a national competition from the Poetry Society to encourage children and communities to learn and love poetry. Becky said: “We were thrilled to hear that our towns and the school had won the award for outstanding engagement from the hundreds of schools who entered.”
“It’s a testament not only to the brilliance of pupils who recited their poems so beautifully but also to the people who supported them.” Principal Nathan Jenkins said: “This is a tremendous achievement. The students really embraced the poetry and the competition and this is a much deserved award.”
The BBC’s filming of locals reciting poetry took place at TKASA, Burnham’s Princess Theatre, St Andrew’s Church, the RNLI station, and the seafront and included the Mayor Cllr Andy Brewer.