QUEENS Park Primary School hosted St Helens KS2 ‘Poetry Buzz’ event last week, celebrating the work of almost 60 young poets from 14 schools across the borough.

The successful festival is now in its sixth year and was founded by Paul Delaney, a former primary school teacher turned children’s author and performance poet - and dad to Saints’ young prop forward George.

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This year saw a first for ‘Poetry Buzz’ with the children’s work published into a new poetry book entitled ‘Out of this world’.

Talented artist Isabella Durran, a Year 3 St Bartholomew’s Catholic Primary School pupil, chose the title and also painted the front cover.

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Leah Alcock, another aspiring Year 5 artist from Holy Spirit Catholic Primary School, produced the imaginative back cover.

Paul said: “The event was a great success.

“Every year it’s getting bigger and better and I’d like to personally thank all the primary schools who get involved year after year.

“The children are amazing – a true testament as to what’s going on in our St Helens schools on a daily basis.

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“To see their faces as they received their very own poetry book, with their own unique poem inside, was priceless. Here’s to next year’s events.”

Catherine Durran – the mum of Isabella – enjoyed the event and described it as “amazing and inspiring”.

“We love his enthusiasm and his energy and the children are captivated by his teaching style.

"There’s some real talent emerging and the children who performed were very brave. It’s an amazing platform to celebrate our children’s skills,” she said.

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Samantha Forbes, a Year 5 teacher at Queen’s Park, explained that the children always look forward to Paul’s visits – and they always inspire and encourage them.

“They are both aspirational and engaging. His fun, witty delivery inspires the children to try a new style of poetry and wear their hearts on their sleeves.

“The poetry Buzz, as always, was a real success and evokes a sense of pride for the whole school community,” she said.

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Mrs Justine Kellett, the head teacher at Queen’s Park, was delighted to host the event at the school.

“It was lovely to open up our school to other primary schools in the local authority and celebrate an evening of poetry across St Helens, and of course, the launch of a brand new poetry book,” she said.

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To see more work from Paul Delaney log on to www.paudelaneypoetry.co.uk