I spent the afternoon at the University of Leeds working with nine Year 10 pupils, and one sixth-former, all from Temple Moor High School. I’m involved with a number of schools, and English PGCE students, as Writer in Residence for the Faculty of Education, where I act as mentor to both pupils and teaching students throughout the year. This was the first writing workshop.

The young people produced knock-out poetry of high quality; they were shy to start off with (who wouldn’t be, with a large, bald man asking them to play slightly eccentric word games) but they gained confidence quickly, and suddenly it all took off and everyone produced something of which they were proud, and which also surprised them.

The teaching staff also had a go, writing alongside the young people making it a very special workshop, full of fun and creativity.