SCHOOLS must ensure pupils are taught more poetry than simply football chants and rap songs, according to a former Poet Laureate who was speaking at a major education conference in York.

Sir Andrew Motion said pupils must be given access to a broad spectrum of poetry to broaden their horizons and fire their imaginations.

He said it was tempting to choose a poem about football for a football-loving boy, or a rap for a fan of Eminem – but this would be like “only seeing one room in a very big house”. He told delegates: “It’s very tempting, and especially with students who are already frightened or suspicious or disliking of poetry, to coax them towards it by offering something that appears to speak directly to their experience.

“There’s nothing wrong with this tactic – provided we recognise that matching like with like is only the beginning of a process.

“To put this another way: each individual kind of poetry is like a doorway into the enormous palace of poetry itself – a place where we make surprising discoveries and connections, and begin to learn that surprise itself is essential to the name and nature of poetry.”

Sir Andrew, who was speaking at the Royal York Hotel, also raised concerns that a “tick box” culture in many schools was denying youngsters a chance to use their imaginations.

He went on to voice fears that many English teachers did not have English degrees, and many did not know how to teach poetry effectively. NEEC 2010, formerly known as the North Of England Education Conference, is Britain’s biggest education conference and is being hosted by City of York Council.

Vernon Coaker, Minister for Schools and Learners, was due to address the conference today.