In the lead-up to the event, six Year 7 and Year 9 students gathered after school on Tuesday, 1st October, to bake pomegranate cakes under the guidance of Miss Hewitt and Ms. Corbally. For many of these students, it was their first encounter with pomegranates, and some had never attended an after-school cooking session before. They embraced the opportunity, working well together as they followed instructions, supported one another, and helped with the clean-up. The finished cakes looked—and smelled—delicious.

On National Poetry Day itself, the Academy poetry trail saw 12 staff members choosing food-themed poems to display. The pomegranate cakes and juice were distributed on The Street, where 136 students stopped by to taste these treats, including 57 who had never tried pomegranates before. KS4 artwork, inspired by the theme of 'Natural Forms' and featuring pomegranates, provided a fitting backdrop to the day’s events.

Adding to the atmosphere, two Year 11 Drama students delivered a stirring reading of How to cut a pomegranate, which inspired six Year 7 girls to step up and take turns reading the poem aloud—a wonderful example of how poetry can spark enthusiasm and confidence.

National Poetry Day was a vibrant reminder of the power of words and the joy of bringing different subjects together to celebrate creativity. Thank you to Ms Corbally for organising such an inspiring day, and for support from the Art and Drama departments, and especially to Mrs Hewitt and the Food Technology team, for making this inspiring event possible.