What Our Students Say

Below is some recent feedback from our student surveys. 

"Every course or workshop I've attended over the years has been joltingly refreshing, sparking my interest in poetry back to life even if my lumbering skills remain monstrous."

"When younger, I never had formal lessons in poetry so each Poetry School event opens new horizons"
"The on-line courses are great and mean I don't have to travel and yet feel part of a group and get feedback. This is my second day workshop which has been invaluable to me."

"It's given me confidence and ambition to carry on writing/performing poetry. It's great to know there are so many people who love poetry, know something about it and to know that there are great teachers who want to share their knowledge and experience"

"I was a beginner when I started at the Poetry School. I have learnt a lot, gained confidence. This week I'm going to send my poems to publishers for the first time. I'm sure some will be accepted.""I felt privileged to have this day! It was beautifully and generously taught. Thank-you."

"Access to this online course enabled me to continue studying at a time when my domestic responsibilities limited my outside activities."

"I had been writing poetry for about five years when I first heard about the Poetry School and enrolled on the first course that Linda Chase ran in Manchester (when was that 2004, 5 or 6?). I have been on courses regularly ever since. Through these I have made many friends in Manchester's community of poets. I worked closely with Linda, who became a very dear friend, now much missed, to establish Poets & Players in Manchester and I now run the Dear List, an Events Newsletter, that she started. It was because of Linda that I studied for an MA in creative writing at MMU, tutored by Simon Armitage, Carol Ann Duffy, Jeffrey Wainwright and others. I don't think it is saying too much to say that the Poetry School has significantly changed my life in many ways."

"...finally took the plunge and enrolled in my first online course (The Editor), also quite affordable. Yes, sometimes the financial issue matters. Now I'm hooked! I would say I'm an intermediate/advanced level poet in some ways, a beginner in others, and I know that the Poetry School will always have something to offer to help me improve my art."

"It has let me make contact with talented and thoughtful people with a real interest in poetry. In the case of the online courses they have been from far and wide (around the world even)."

"writing is a lonely business - the online courses provide a virtual community of supportive colleagues and can really help to a writer to keep going"

"Fantastic value for money. Lovely, intimate venue. Everyone offering honest, encouraging, constructive criticism in a very welcoming atmosphere. Course structured well with different people giving poems to workshop each week, interspersed with studying new poets. Wonderful!"

" All in all a great year's experience which has really helped to move my writing forward - indeed I have won a small first and second prizes in competitions this year. I feel that where I am now was inconceivable a year ago, I feel so much more confident and clear about what I am looking for and want. Tutors have been extremely generous with their encouragement, advice, time and experience"

"It was the first course I'd ever taken with the PS. As I'm a unwaged carer, I applied for a bursary which I received for the year which was really helpful. I LOVED the course, I learnt so much from the tutor and from the other participants, it was really challenging in the best way, thought provoking and stimulating. I benefitted so much from it that I'm planning to enroll for Sept 2010"