MPS welcomes Christian Foley
On October 30 2023, Merstham Park School had the privilege of hosting the extraordinary Christian Foley, a maestro of words, rhythm, and inspiration. This luminary, celebrated for his freewheeling verses and spontaneous performances, enraptured our students, leaving them awash in a symphony of creativity and educational beats.
Christian Foley's myriad genius have earned accolades from luminaries like 50 Cent and Lin Manuel Miranda, the visionary behind ‘Hamilton’. His verses and performances have echoed across the globe, amassing over thirty million views and earning him accolades in esteemed British and international publications.
A graduate of the Teaching MA at Goldsmiths University and 'Spoken Word Education Programme', Christian stands as one of the few poets chosen to undergo this transformative training. With over a decade spent sculpting the minds of thousands of children and collaborating with hundreds of teachers, Christian has become a poetic harbinger, a permanent Poet in Residence in various schools and alternative provisions in East London.
The students of Merstham Park, from Years 8, 9, 10, and 11, found themselves immersed in extraordinary sessions, where Christian's ability to drop poetic bombs and connect with the soul of hip hop education brought an unparalleled vibe to the hall. Students were encouraged to rap battle, think about how they can understand unseen poetry and also put pen to paper in writing their own pieces. In a session with a small group of Year 11 students, Christian guided them through the alchemy of crafting their own verses.
The response from both students and staff were unanimous; spellbound by the rapid metamorphosis of thoughts into poetry. Students in Year 8 also got to hear Christian rap in French. Growing up in Jersey, Christian's bilingual background added a distinctive layer to his performance and highlighted the beauty in speaking other languages. Christian, in turn, was wonderfully complimenting of our students and praised their confidence, enthusiasm and engagement, noting their impeccable behaviour throughout the sessions.
As a school, we eagerly anticipate Christian Foley's return to Merstham Park. His visit has not just sparked a passion for spoken word and poetry; it has orchestrated a vista of inspiration and creativity in our students, a rhythm we are eager to amplify in the future.
