National Poetry Day: Laura Mucha to attempt world's largest school poetry lesson

Children’s author and poet Laura Mucha has teamed up with National Poetry Day to attempt a Guinness World Records title for giving the largest poetry lesson, with more than 200,000 children from 1,200 schools already signed up. The lesson, which will take place at 10am on National Poetry Day (3rd October), will bring together students around the UK and beyond to contribute to writing one collective poem, based on this year’s theme of counting. The poem will then be displayed on billboards across the country.

The initiative is backed by Arts Council Lottery funding and supported by the Centre for Literacy in Primary Education, National Literacy Trust, The Children’s Poetry Archive, The Poetry Society, University of Cambridge, advertising agency Storycatchers, PSP Live Events and Zoom Events. Although the lesson was initially aimed at children in the UK, there have been sign-ups from around the world, including Spain, Nigeria and the Philippines.

Mucha said that celebrating literacy in this way was much needed. The latest government stats (2022/23) suggest that 29% of children can’t write well enough by the time they finish primary school, and 27% can’t read well enough. Recent National Literacy Trust research showed that more than half of children are actively engaging with poetry in some way.

Mucha added: “I wanted to create a mass participation event that would bring together and empower thousands of children, something that young people could be proud to be a part of and that would transform their relationship with words–and specifically poetry. Attempting a Guinness World Records title felt like an ideal way to do this. And when so much focus is on achievement, this celebrates the act of coming together and taking part."

Hundreds of schools have submitted their students’ ideas about what they think counts, and what’s important in life, she said. "I’m turning these into a draft poem. During the lesson, we’ll edit the poem together and vote on what goes in and out. Then the poem will be displayed on billboards across the country—and young people will be able to think: ’I was part of that, my ideas and opinions mattered, I helped make that happen’.”

The lesson is for students aged seven to 12 (Y3-Y7/P4-P7). Schools need a minimum of 25 participating students to take part. To sign up, click here.