Bexhill High students creative writing event

Thirty three, year ten students, attended the Creative Writing event as part of the continuing 'Ethnographic Imaginings' project.

Deputy Principle Caroline Mortlock explained more about the day and how it came about.

She said: "Basically the students spent the day writing a selection of poems which related to objects displayed in Hastings Museum."

She added:"The day was centred around repeating an event the students had seen last summer, when three nationally renowned poets, John Argard, Imtiaz Dharker, and Grace Nichols wrote and performed their poems at Hastings Museum."

Caroline said the students were, "very impressed" with what they saw and, as Bexhill High wanted to develop this writing project, a class of year ten students set the wheels in motion by writing their own poems in response to what the poets had written.

This was followed by the day long visit to the museum where the students continued in the footsteps of the professional poets, and wrote their thoughts and expressions in direct response to what they found there.

Caroline said: "It really was a fabulous day '“ the whole day was spent writing and the students produced some amazing poems. It was a wonderful relaxed atmosphere and the quality of work was absolutely outstanding."

And, whilst the school is hoping to develop the project further in the new year, the poetry that emerged from the event is in the process of being edited, with a selection being sent to Imtiaz Dharker to read.

Hastings Museum and Art Gallery will print a selection of the poems and the students are recording readings of their work.