A BRADFORD poet who organised a competition for children to appreciate their teachers through poetry has been inspired by the pupils’ work.

Sharena Lee Sati’s project was selected as part of the Response2 grants, awarded by Bradford Council to people working in the district’s creative industry.

Many children responded, each creating a poetry postcard under the theme ‘Heroes Are Teachers’, and others have the chance to enter before the closing date in May.

“I was deeply inspired by our teachers throughout lockdown and how they lifted our children's spirits up,” said Sharena. “Not only did they manage to teach remotely online but they helped to keep what little normality we had left. They have been incredibly hardworking and compassionate throughout lockdown, not just to their students but to parents too.

“This project is to encourage students under 16 to create a poetry piece for their teachers, a thank you message in the form of the creative art ‘poetry’.”

Each submission has the chance of winning a home schooling bundle and the runner up £100 gift card, to be presented at an award ceremony in June.

“This was a little way at showing how incredible our teachers are and allowing children to share their words of appreciation through poetry to their teachers,” added Sharena.

The project was inspired in particular by teacher Deborah Crossland from Lowerfields Primary Academy in Fenby Avenue. Among the other schools taking part are Poplars Farm Primary and Beckfoot Thornton School.

Sharena added: “We have had a great response already, with some amazing poems coming through. I have really loved being part of this project, and we have had some great feedback from the schools."

Helping Sharena judge the entries are Laura Baldwin, and Simon Pickles who with Sharena are co-founders of Spoke, a group promoting poetry as therapy.

Shazia Awan, a teacher at Beckfoot Thornton School said: "Over many years, I have seen children and young people grow in their enthusiasm for writing.

“This is a great way to turn them on to poetry, self-expression, and be creative with words.”

Response2 grants focus on supporting those struggling with home schooling. They aimed at finding innovative ways to engage families both online and offline.

Children educated at home can also enter.

*Poems can be emailed to heroesareteachers@gmail.com before May 15, or get in touch via Instagram at Heroes are Teachers. Pupils enter in two age groups five to 11 and 11 to 16.