Posted: 20/05/15
Students learn about Byron, the ‘rock star poet’
Students at Vision Studio School visited Nottinghamshire’s historic Newstead Abbey for a project comparing its once owner, notorious playboy poet Lord Byron, with modern-day rock stars.
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Students outside the historic Newstead Abbey, with lead learning coach Rob Penn (first left) and citizenship coach Kelly Hopley (first right)
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Enjoying a tour of the abbey are students (from left) Kenny Packman, Sobika Selvam, Max Payne and Beth Seaton with site heritage coordinator Jonathan Brown (second right) and Rob Penn (first right)
A group of 45 Year 10 students from the Mansfield school enjoyed a tour of the ancestral home and gardens of the man widely-regarded as being one of Britain’s greatest-ever poets.
Activities included a treasure hunt-style quiz, answering questions on an activity sheet while moving between rooms, a map-reading exercise in the landscaped grounds and reading Byron’s poem ‘To an Oak at Newstead’, which he wrote to commemorate the tree he planted as a ten-year-old boy in 1798.
The visit, on Friday 15 May, formed part of a project called ‘Byron: Rock Star Poet’ looking at how the literary hero was a revered celebrity of his day. It has been designed by the school to prepare students for the poetry element of their English literature GCSE, which they will study next year.
Rob Penn, lead learning coach for English, said: “The students really enjoyed learning about the life and times of Lord Byron and discovering the historical importance of Newstead Abbey.
“Showing students how Byron was the ‘rock star’ of his age and encouraging them to compare him with a modern-day celebrity of their choice has proved a great way of introducing them to poetry, in readiness for their English literature studies when they enter Year 11.
“It’s also enabling them to explore literature in a real-world context while also celebrating our area’s rich history and cultural heritage.”
Vision Studio School is a new type of school for 14 to 19-year-olds. It teaches the same core academic subjects as traditional schools but combines these with vocational qualifications in engineering, and health and care. These are delivered through project-based learning and work placements with employers.
The school, on Chesterfield Road South, is sponsored by West Nottinghamshire College.
Students pictured outside the historic Newstead Abbey, with lead learning coach Rob Penn (first left) and citizenship coach Kelly Hopley (first right).
Pictured enjoying a tour of Lord Byron’s ancestral home are students (from left) Kenny Packman, Sobika Selvam, Max Payne and Beth Seaton, with the site’s heritage co-ordinator Jonathan Brown, who donned period costume (second from right), and lead learning coach Rob Penn (first from right).
