THE JOHN Masefield High School has announced the appointment of it's first ever Poet in Residence, and her involvement with the school will lead to a live performance by students at the Ledbury Poetry Festival, in July.

She is Brenda Read-Brown, who is an experienced performance poet from Gloucestershire where she is currently the Poet Laureate; she is also a trustee of Ledbury Poetry Festival and Coordinator of the Poetry on Loan project in the West Midlands.

She has performed her poetry all over the UK and abroad.

A school spokesman said: "Brenda’s poetry is entertaining, thought provoking and uplifting.

"She will be visiting the school throughout 2017 to perform her poetry and run workshops with our students to help inspire their creativity and release their inner poets."

The spokesman added: "Students will be encouraged to not only produce their own poetry, but to develop their performance skills which will culminate in a live event at the Poetry Festival in July."

Last year Brenda led poetry sessions at St Michael’s Hospice for day care patients, and she also undertook therapeutic work with patients in the Living Well group, which meets at doctors’ surgeries.

Brenda said of her latest project: "I am delighted to have been appointed as John Masefield School’s Poet in Residence. I have worked as a poet with many groups and individuals, but nothing gives me more joy than working with young people. I am really looking forward to sharing words with the John Masefield pupils, to helping in their development as poets, and, I’m sure, to learning a lot myself.”