St Francis has achieved significant improvements through its teachers' participation in PTI Hub Days over the past two years. Professional development in writing and poetry had a particularly profound impact on teaching practice and pupil outcomes. Inspired by this, leaders delivered further staff development, introduced a whole-school Poetry Week, and organised a highly successful Poetry Slam.
The poetry hub day encouraged staff to try a fresh approach. Teachers displayed an infectious enthusiasm that quickly transferred to the children. The resulting Poetry Slam restored creativity, confidence, and the joy of learning to classrooms, with pupils deeply engaged, eager to perform, and proud of their achievements.
Equipping teachers with practical strategies, the initiative reignited confidence across the school. Children experimented creatively with language, developed a genuine love of poetry, and showed increased writing engagement alongside greater performance confidence.
Beyond the classroom, Poetry Week enabled pupils to express themselves and find their voice. Demonstrating the powerful impact of high-quality professional development, the project has ensured poetry remains a valued part of the curriculum, with the Poetry Slam now established as an annual highlight.