Performance poet Kokumo Rocks cut the ribbon on Glasgow’s first school poetry library in Craigton Primary School to the sound of pupils cheering.

The library was the brainchild of Craigton class teacher Sandra McCay, who secured a £500 grant from Learning and Teaching Scotland to pay for the shelves of poetry books.

Sandra told the LOCAL NEWS that the library was a home reading initiative to encourage pupils to read more at home.

She said, ‘There’s a sense of achievement seeing the library finished and I know that the pupils will get a great amount of enjoyment from it. I love poetry and it’s nice to be able to pass that on. Hopefully it will inspire the children as it’s something a little different from the usual classroom learning.’

Poet Kokumo was introduced to the school through bookshop Waterstones, where Sandra bought the books for the poetry library.

Kokumo, who describes herself as a ‘Scottish African Asian poet’, told the LOCAL NEWS, ‘I think it’s a fantastic idea and it’ll be quite exciting if the children get into it. They can learn how to express themselves better, have fun with words, and put things in an interesting way, which can only be a good thing. Poetry is not a luxury, it’s a necessity.’

Craigton pupil Nicola McKechnie said, ‘We’re really lucky to have the library. Poems help you to understand the world around you and your emotions better.’

Fellow pupil Naomi McPhail, a keen poetry writer, said, ‘It helps you get all of your feelings out onto the paper.’