Rhyme and Reason

In late 2024, five secondary schools were selected to help pilot this innovative 10-week programme, which applies the proven Arts for the Blues creative therapy model in non-clinical, classroom settings. This model was developed to address depression, low mood, and anxiety through arts-based interventions by Edge Hill and Salford Universities. Co-delivered by teachers and poets, Rhyme and Reason helps students explore their emotions and develop tools for good mental health.

Recent years have seen turbulent times – with a global pandemic, the subsequent cost of living crisis, exams and social pressures compounding a growing youth mental health crisis. Schools are increasingly relied upon to provide effective mental health and wellbeing support. The Rhyme and Reason project has been created to explore how schools and educators can respond to this demand using arts and creativity as their toolki

• 6 teachers received training and support to develop their specialist practice

• 6 professional poets were involved in co-designing and delivering workshops

• 200+ professional poets were involved in co-designing and delivering workshops

Why poetry?

Poetry has a unique ability to resonate with individuals on a deep emotional level. By exploring existing poems and creating their own, students can find new ways to articulate their thoughts and emotions. This process not only enhances their creative skills but also promotes positive mental health by providing a safe space for self-expression.

Our pilot cohort of schools and artists took an approach influenced by action research, exploring the following question:

How can poetry best support and promote the positive mental health and emotional wellbeing of students?

Specialist training and co-creation

To ensure that the teachers and poets felt equipped to deliver this programme, they all attended specialised training together, carefully curated by Curious Minds to prepare them for planning and delivering their poetry activities in school. This included training in: · Arts for the Blues (with Edge Hill University)

• Trauma Informed Practice (with Collective Encounters)
• Exploring the research question
• Approaches to creative evaluation

The teachers then worked with their school’s assigned poet to plan and deliver poetry activities for young people which were carefully tailored to the needs and interests of their specific classes.

Classroom delivery and outcomes

The second stage of the pilot, taking place through early 2025, was for the teachers and poets to deliver their co-created activities within the school settings. We were pleased to see clear signs of early impact and positive outcomes for all participants, such as:

• High pupil engagement, reflected in consistent attendance, anticipation and enthusiasm, with teachers reporting that students look forward to upcoming sessions.
• Visible personal development among pupils, as teachers notice growth through their engagement with poetry. Quieter pupils are finding their voice, using poetry as a means of expression.
• Stronger teacher-student relationships, with some teachers reporting a deeper sense of connection, increased compassion, and a new perspective on their students.
• Increased skills, knowledge, and confidence amongst both teachers and poets.
• Positive feedback from parents after seeing the project’s impact on their children.

One of our young ladies is often absent on Fridays or arrives late. Since starting Rhyme and Reason, she’s been in school every Friday and on time!

Teacher

I liked that the training offered opportunities for individual learning, as well as how the process could be applied in classroom settings.

Teacher

What's next?

The Rhyme and Reason pilot is currently in the last stages of delivery, and we look forward to sharing more learning from this initiative as we identify the wider impacts of the work.

In the longer term, we already know that this model works and are actively looking into opportunities to share this model with a wider audience, extending its benefits to more schools and their young people.

Curious to know more?

If you’re interested in learning more about our work in the field of creative health and wellbing, we’d love to hear from you.

Get in touch using the contact details below.