Apples and Snakes have worked in schools for over 30 years, delivering education projects with young people of all ages and in all kinds of settings.
If you’re looking to introduce young people to poetry, or develop work with young poets then we’re here to help you. Please take a look at our offers below, or feel free to contact us at [email protected] to see how we could help you.
Words that Burn: Amnesty International UK
Ignite your students minds and empower them to spark change! Words that Burn is Amnesty International UK’s flagship creative education programme. It aims to empower young people to explore and take action for human rights through poetry. Amnesty’s Words That Burn education resources are designed to help students to explore human rights through poetry, develop their own writing and performance style and unearth the power within their words. Designed to be used in secondary schools, Amnesty offers free access to 10 education resources on themes such as identity, equality and freedom of expression. Each resource is accompanied by poems, films and PowerPoints that support students to explore work from different poets and develop their own poetry writing. You can access all of the 10 free education resources here.Book a Poet
If you want to bring poetry to life in your classroom, Apples and Snakes have a wealth of poets across the country able to deliver workshops, performances, assemblies, INSET training, residencies, projects and more…
Whether you want to celebrate National Poetry Day, World Book Day or Black History Month; explore a particular curriculum topic; fire up your class with a creative energiser; or offer them an end-of-term treat; we can find the right poet for you.
You can find more information about the programme on our dedicated Book a Poet page.
Alternatively, fill in our enquiry form and send it to [email protected]. We will get back to you as soon as we can.
Writing Resources
John Hegle
y: Putting You in the Picture – Writing Resource
Imagine diving right into a picture: what would you see, hear, feel, smell?
Developed by poet John Hegley, these teaching resources inspire and support 9-11 year olds to explore poetry, stories and artworks to produce creative engagements with visual art. They offer ideas, tips, examples and exercises that will inspire and support your own creative work, and can be used in gallery settings, schools or at home.
Download the resources direct from the Tes website.
Putting You in the Picture resources are produced by Clare Elstow, and have been supported by Arts Council England.
National Poetry Day
Taking place on the first Thursday of October every year, National Poetry Day is an annual mass celebration of poetry.
Based on the 2020 theme of ‘vision’, Apples and Snakes commissioned a teaching resource from poet Rachel Long, exploring her poem ‘Night’ and leading pupils to create their own poem based on her example. Appropriate for Key Stages 3, 4 and 5.
You can find resources for all Key Stages, and information about National Poetry Day on the National Poetry Day website.
Download our 2020 Apples and Snakes resource as a PDF.
We have something wonderful planned for 2021 National Poetry Day and will update you as we finalise it. Watch this space!
Further resources
You can find more poetry-based teaching resources from our partners below:
Bespoke Education Projects
Our previous education programmes include the Word Cup youth poetry slams; targeted projects for looked after children; our London-wide library festival SPINE; and many more.
We can deliver professional development and training for practitioners; practical workshops for young people; and project management and coordination. If you are looking for support to set up a poetry education programme, then please get in touch at [email protected].
Artsmark
What is Artsmark?
Artsmark is a nationally recognised accreditation for schools, demonstrating excellence in arts and cultural provision. It is open to all primary and secondary schools, further education colleges and youth justice settings in England.
How can Apples and Snakes help you with Artsmark?
If you book a poet through us to come to your school and deliver a performance, workshops or an INSET, this can contribute towards your Artsmark. Our experienced poets can deliver tailored workshops and performances to meet the needs of your setting.
Why should my organisation apply for Artsmark?
Achieving Artsmark status demonstrates that your school or setting has a number of very special qualities. It demonstrates that you:
- have an arts and cultural provision for all children and young people
- are forward thinking and open to development
- are committed to investing in your staff and young people, in effect nurturing talent
- are committed to listening to your students and providing opportunities for your community
- have an effective approach to building sustainable relationships with arts and cultural organisations
- value the arts and culture through a broad and balanced curriculum
Arts Award
Arts Award celebrates the artistic achievements of young people and can be achieved through any arts, media or cultural activity, including spoken word.
There are no entry requirements, no set rules on how to present your work and no time limit for completing each award, as long as you are aged between 7 and 25 years.
Apples and Snakes is an Arts Award Supporter. This means if you or a young person you know is interested in developing new creative skills and experiences, then Apples and Snakes can help you to achieve your Arts Award.
To find out about opportunities for young artists from Apples and Snakes and our partners, sign up to our Artist Opportunities newsletter.
Family Arts Standards
The Family Arts Campaign and the Family & Childcare Trust have developed a set of Family Arts Standards, addressing a need for clear guidance on how best to welcome families to arts organisations.
Apples and Snakes are proud to be one of the 750 organisations across the UK who have pledged to meet the Family Arts Standards, a UK-wide recognised quality-mark demonstrating excellence in family provision.
