The SPL runs an active education programme for Scottish schools.

We support poets working in schools and other learning environments.

We support teachers, school librarians and other educators who know that poems engage the creative imagination and provide an ideal medium through which to explore and express ideas in subjects across the Curriculum.

And we hope to inspire young readers and writers of poetry.

In these pages you'll find details of upcoming workshops and CPD sessions, competitions, ideas, tips and lesson plans.

Our featured poet this spring is John Rice, Glasgow Subway Poet-in-Residence.

Since August 2008 John Rice has been Glasgow Subway Poet-in-Residence with Strathclyde Partnership for Transport. It might disappoint a few of his younger fans to find out that this doesn't mean he has been living on an underground train for the last eight months. Instead he has been out and about, inspiring the people of Glasgow to read, write and share poems, through workshops and events in primary and secondary schools, at the Glasgow Science Centre, the CCA and the Transport Museum, at Deaf Connections and in writers' groups at venues across the city.

‘During the residency I have been deeply involved in education work,' says John. ‘In most cases that would normally mean a one-off visit, but thanks to the residency I have been able to devise five- or six-visit projects with schools. I think the teachers, the young people and children are able to see their own writing develop over these visits. Also, repeated exposure to the writing challenges I devise for them, encourages a strong sense of purpose and resilience in their writing.'

Frances McGinley, English Principal Teacher at Notre Dame High School, was impressed with John's work with both their S1 pupils, and Advanced Higher English group. ‘His work was stimulating and enabled the class to produce excellent poems. I also enjoyed the classes and thought it was one of the best creative writing workshops I have taken part in. John has left a vibrant legacy from his short time with us... we really missed him when he stopped working with us.'

If you have travelled on the underground in the last few months you will have seen at least one of John's subway posters, some of which feature his own poems, others celebrating the work of Robert Burns as part of SPT's support for Burns' 250th anniversary. And when you picked up your timetable you might also have picked up a postcard featuring a poem from either John, or Burns, or from one of the ‘Underground Poets'. Working with Glasgow's writer development agency, St. Mungo's Mirrorball, John led this group of writers who were keen to move forward with their own poetry.

‘We have met monthly to read new work, engage in discussions about literature, do on-the-spot writing exercises, share ideas and offer comment on each other's new work. The energy of the individuals and the synergy of the group made for a remarkable project which I have thoroughly enjoyed.'

John McGlade, one of the Underground Poets (and the man who came up with their name) says ‘the significance of an opportunity like this goes beyond our group and helps make Glasgow the City Of Poets we would all like it to be.

And the group came to the attention of the BBC, who came to interview them as part of research for a forthcoming BBC2 programme ‘Why Poetry Matters', an acknowledgement that John says was ‘energising and fulfilling for each of us'.

John Rice was born in Possilpark in 1948 and moved to Saltcoats at the age of five. Having lived most of his adult life in England the residency provided John with a chance to revisit the city of his early childhood, and through SPT's support for Burns 250 and Homecoming 2009, to go back to Ayrshire, where he grew up.

‘Michael Rosen often used to ask why I never wrote poems about my own childhood (Mike did this as a matter of course – nearly all of his poems are drawn from his or his family's experiences). I met up with him at the Creative Sparks conference in Edinburgh in February and I told him I've finally started doing just that!

Having returned to Glasgow after nearly 40 years away, I am able to reflect more on my early days in the city and write ‘at a distance'. My cousins, in particular my cousin Ellen, have been reminding me of the times we had as children and re-visiting childhood locations such as Possilpark, Castle Street and landmarks like Kelvingrove and the Transport Museum bring back so many memories. I have written several poems about the subway – that dark Glaswegian artery figures prominently in the memory banks of many a Glaswegian.'

As Glasgow's subway poet you might expect John to write about the underground itself, but this partnership has been about so much more than that. It has provided him with a unique opportunity to make connections throughout the city and to share poetry with the people of Glasgow as they go about their daily lives. As Skye Lonergan, one of the Underground Poets says, ‘ I can see great potential for artists to reach an audience through SPT and I am glad of the collaboration in this amazing city between arts and business.'

But we'll leave the final words to one of SPT's own staff, Stephen Febers: 'Thanks again for giving me inspiration, if you had not arrived at SPT I would not have written some poetry'.

John Rice is a nationally known storyteller and poet who has published 13 books for both adults and children, including The Dream of Night Fishers (Scottish Cultural Press), Dreaming of Dinosaurs and Bears Don't Like Bananas . His latest book of poems for children is Guzzling Jelly with Giant Gorbelly (Macmillan) His poetry has been published throughout the world in over 300 contemporary anthologies, DVDs and CDs. He has also written for and appeared on radio and television, most recently contributing a selection of poems to the new Cbeebies programme ‘Poetry Pie'. He and his wife, Clare, now live in Sedbergh in Cumbria, England's Book Town, where he is a full time writer and Director of The Festival of Ideas.

Find out more at: www.poetjohnrice.com

The Subway Poet-in-Residence is a Scottish Arts Council Residency.

Why Poetry Matters will be shown on BBC2 in May