Awarding Winning Poet Karl Nova visits the Academy

Corby Business Academy Library recently welcomed award-winning poet Karl Nova for an inspiring and memorable visit with students.

Karl spent the day working closely with Year 7, delivering engaging assemblies where he shared his personal journey into poetry. He spoke honestly about his life experiences, the challenges he has overcome, and how poetry became a powerful form of expression for him. Students were captivated not only by his story but also by his live poetry performances, which brought energy, humour, and emotion to the room.

In addition to the assemblies, Karl led two interactive writing workshops. The first was designed for Year 7 students who had demonstrated exceptional enthusiasm and talent during their recent poetry topic last term. The second workshop was open to students from across other year groups, offering even more learners the opportunity to develop their creative writing skills.

During these sessions, students explored their own voices as poets, experimenting with language, rhythm, and personal storytelling. By the end of the workshops, they had each created original pieces of poetry, many of which they confidently shared with Karl and their peers.

Students responded incredibly positively to the experience, describing Karl as relatable, engaging, and inspiring. His ability to connect with young people has made a lasting impression, encouraging many to see poetry in a new light.

Karl also spoke highly of the students, praising both the quality of the work produced during the day and the poetry that students had brought along to share with him. He shared how much he enjoyed working with them and was impressed by their creativity, honesty, and willingness to express themselves.

Mrs Keelan, Librarian, said, “This visit from Karl was a fantastic opportunity for students to engage with a professional poet and deepen their appreciation for creative writing. For many students, it was the first time they had met an author and poet in real life and I’m confident Karl’s visit will continue to inspire their learning and creativity moving forward. Karl was a brilliant guest and I look forward to inviting him back one day."