Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy has performed a selection of her famous work to around 350 students at a Hampstead secondary school.

University College School (UCS) hosted the 57-year-old poet in the school’s Great Hall, Frognal, Hampstead, on March 19.

UCS pupils, as well as students from Westminster Academy and QE Barnet among others, were treated to readings from Ms Duffy, who also signed copies of her work and chatted with audience members.

Joe Hartley, head of UCS’s English department, said: “She read a selection of poems and talked about the inspirations behind them. It was really fantastic because so often you see these things on the page and it’s great to see them actually performed.

“It was great that it wasn’t just students from UCS; we also involved students from local state schools.”