Rap and Literacy: workshops exploring Rap and Hip-Hop led by Rob Bradley have begun for primary school pupils

Over the past few weeks, year four Pupils at Weston Park Primary, along with year five pupils at Bassett Green Primary and St Monica’s Primary, have had an exciting start to the Rap and Literacy Project funded by Paul Hamlyn Foundation. The start of this project has also been documented by a filmmaker from City Eye.

With a workshop led by Rap and Spoken word artist Rob Bradley, and ongoing weekly class sessions, pupils have begun learning how Rap and Hip-Hop can be used as a creative tool to improve their literacy and music skills. This project will be continuing until July 2022, with opportunities for the pupils to shape the project, in collaboration with Rob Bradley and their lead teacher, through shared reflection and development.

Nia Collins, Project Manager for Southampton Music Hub, says:

"We are so excited to have finally started this project with the children and young people in schools who will form the core of this project! As they begin this journey with us along with their classroom teachers and schools, we can't wait to see what a difference this makes to their outcomes across the whole year."

Matt Brombley, Development Manager, for Southampton Music Hub, says:

“These first few days of the project have been so exciting. We’ve already seen pupil’s sharing raps they have written at home, and bringing music they love into their lessons. Their response to Rob’s freestyle skills was amazing to see too: they couldn’t contain they’re excitement as he created rhymes on the fly. Everyone left these workshops feeling inspired and excited for the year ahead.”