by Dr Jones, Head of Library & Enrichment
We were thrilled to welcome widely published and multi slam winning poet Holly Winter-Hughes to MSJ in celebration of National Poetry Day.
Holly is a poet, researcher and therapeutic writing facilitator. Her work has been commissioned by organisations including Apples & Snakes and Arvon and she has performed widely across the UK at festivals and on BBC platforms. Her latest poetry collection, How to Leave a Body, was published in May 2025 and explores themes of embodiment, narrative, and transformation.
In a memorable school assembly, Holly shared her personal journey into poetry—how she discovered writing as a way to voice emotions, explore identity, and give shape to what we sometimes carry inside. She spoke with honesty about how poetry became a channel for healing and expression before she shared some of her work on stage.
Workshops with Years 5–9
After the assembly, Holly led creative writing workshops for Years 5 & 6, Year 7, Year 8, and Year 9. She offered thought-provoking prompts encouraging pupils to connect their emotions aand selves with the landscape and animals. Her style of facilitation encouraged all students to look inside, trust their voices, and experiment with new ideas. She definitely inspired student to unlocking and discover stories they didn’t know they had.
Her visit reminded us of that the power of poetry has to uncover, heal, and connect —and that every student can discover their voice.
