A HIGHBRIDGE teacher has been recognised for starting an initiative to try and get students to learn and perform poetry.

Becky Dalziel, an English Teacher at The King Alfred School Academy, started the Poetry by Heart project at the school in December last year and scores of students and residents took to social media to share their poems.

Becky helped the pupils to send their poems in to the competition and as a result she has been shortlisted as a finalist for special award for outstanding engagement from Poetry by Heart.

She said: “We were delighted to be invited to London to receive the award on behalf of our wonderful pupils and town but sadly it wasn’t to be.

“It was a brilliant event that I would encourage other schools to take part in especially as we have lots of time to learn a poem at the moment.

“The King Alfred School is a great supporter of the creative arts with art in the playground, photography exhibitions, concerts and school plays.

“We’re over the moon to get such a prestigious national award.

“We couldn’t have done it without the help of the wonderful residents of Burnham and Highbridge.”

Becky said she has been ‘humbled’ by the community’s response to the initiative and she is ‘very grateful’ to the Mayor of Burnham and Highbridge Cllr Andy Brewer, Reverend Sharon Eldergill and all residents who learned a poem.

The town’s poems were featured in a broadcast on BBC News’ Breakfast programme earlier this year and Becky said she is thrilled the school has been recognised for its poetry skills.

“We’ve been invited to the launch event in October which will hopefully happen and I will get to meet Simon Armitage the poet laureate who is a massive hero of mine,” Becky said.

“It’s the poetry equivalent of someone meeting Gary Barlow. The school won the award it for outstanding engagement. I’m just the one who organised it.

“I am very proud of all of the students for their amazing efforts.”

Becky will find out if she has been successful later this year and will be attending a celebratory showcase event on or around National Poetry Day in October.