Beckton pupils are turning poetry into performance, creativity, and global connection through an international education programme.
Kingsford Community School hosted a poetry and cultural showcase under the Poetry Across the Oceans Global Chinese Poetry Fellowship.
The event, held on May 15, welcomed students, special guests, including Newham’s cabinet member for children, education and communities councillor Lakmini Shah, artists, and international media.
Kingsford was reportedly the only UK school selected to host a poetry performance day as part of the fellowship, an international programme running from late April to early June that connects classical Chinese poetry with British culture.
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Headteacher Joan Deslandes said: "At Kingsford, we believe poetry should not be something pupils struggle to decode – it should be something they experience, perform and connect with.
"Being the only UK school chosen to host this global programme is a recognition of the unique way our pupils engage with both English and Mandarin literary traditions.
"This project is about breaking down barriers, making classical literature accessible, and giving young people the cultural and linguistic skills to thrive in a global world.
"By developing free resources for schools nationwide, we hope this work will have a lasting impact far beyond our own classrooms."
Kingsford was chosen for its pupils’ ability to understand and discuss poetry in both English and Mandarin. During the bilingual event, students hosted and interacted with guests in both languages.
The school is embedding poetry across the curriculum.
As part of the fellowship, Kingsford pupils are developing free UK-wide teaching resources designed to make poetry more immersive and culturally relevant.
The showcase included poetry readings, visual artwork, dance, and martial arts, with visitors praising the confidence and creativity on display.
The project has also led to co-operation with major cultural institutions, including a visit to Shakespeare’s Globe and ongoing discussions about future performances and learning opportunities.
Kingsford pupils have produced a range of creative outputs, including a 20-poem resource pack, one museum learning pack, one bilingual performance script, and more than 300 images and videos.
The school plans to continue developing free poetry resources to benefit schools nationwide.
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