Emma Jenkins wants to help mentor students hit by the A-Level results fiasco

This summer we watched as students got their exam results back amid the chaos and confusion of algorithmic-determined grades.

As an Enfield resident and teacher who has worked with GCSE and A-Level students, I was heartbroken to see their hard work go to waste, as many of them missed out on grades, college and university places they had worked so hard on.

Every member of our creative writing group Crested Tit Collective (CTC) felt the same. We wanted to help all of those students who were disappointed by the results day fiasco by offering them a chance to take part in our mentorship programme. It is open to the A-Level cohort of 2019/20 and 2020/21, with all aspiring creative writing students welcome, including those that are starting university in 2020. Students of all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

Each student we work with will be matched to a member of CTC, one who we feel shares their particular creative interests. The course will consist of a monthly one-to-one session that will deal with creative and theoretical readings, workshops and writing exercises that will eventually lead to a body of work that the student will produce.

The aim of the programme is to firstly build confidence. This will lead to opportunities to participate in a live event showcasing each student’s work and to have it published with an independent publisher, Broken Sleep Books. Also, we hope to help the students develop their creative writing work through feedback, writing workshops, and the introduction of new forms of literature and poetry. Lastly, we want to offer our support in applying or re-applying to courses and positions that they may have missed out on.

CTC was founded in 2019 by alumni of the poetic practice masters course at Royal Holloway, University of London, and comprises ten poets from diverse backgrounds working in a range of experimental types of writing. The group holds regular workshops, readings, and events, including a digital Earth Day reading with a range of renowned poets including CA Conrad, Robert Hampson, and Juliana Spahr.

Apply to take part in the CTC mentorship programme before the deadline on Saturday 31^st October:
Visit tinyurl.com/CTCmentorship

Find out more about CTC:
Email [email protected]
Visit ctcpoetry.wordpress.com

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