I recently spent an amazing two hours with some sixth-formers at the Priory Academy (LSST) in Lincoln. They’ve just embarked on the first year of their A-Level in Creative Writing.

While I was there I talked to them about the creative writing options available on the English degree at the University, told them a bit about my own career as a poet, read some of my poems and answered some very probing questions. Then I set them to work writing something of their own.

The results were very impressive – great ideas, real creativity and bags of enthusiasm. Not bad considering I gave them less than half an hour to do it in!

Many thanks to Sarah Oliver for organising the session (and to the other members of staff who came along). And special thanks to the writers themselves.