Author and reading patron Chris Vick inspires Rossendale pupils
When they were using Zoom for lessons, the Haslingden High students responded well to an extract from his book Girl. Boy. Sea.
An author whose novel inspired students from a high school during lockdown, is now its Patron of Reading.
Yasmine Choudhry, librarian at Haslingden High School, Haslingden, Rossendale, Lancashire sent out a tweet asking for an author to fill the new role - and tagged her favourite three authors in the message.
She was delighted when Chris Vick replied, because when they were using Zoom for lessons, the students responded well to an extract from his book Girl. Boy. Sea.
Chris has now been able to pay his first visit, in real time, to the school. He spoke to different year groups and led workshops to inspire and enthuse the students into writing and reading.
He encouraged the students to think about how a story is written, what could be the inspiration and how to add colour and ‘discover their voice’.
In response to student questions, he explained he had written 10 to 11 books - some not complete - and had five published including Girl. Boy. Sea. which was shortlisted for the Carnegie Prize.
Chris said reading a good book inspired him to write and when he started writing it was akin to disappearing into the world of a good book but multiplied by 10.
Year 7 student Claudia Lord, 12, said: “It was really nice to see an actual author. A couple of years ago I did try writing a book but I got distracted. I enjoy English and my teacher is really nice. He has inspired me to write.”
Chris said: “I am a writer but also an educator, and when I get a real buzz is seeing people go from the ‘I can’t write’ to ‘Can I write?’ then ‘I can’.
“Being able to work in a school in person and not just as an online workshop has been brilliant. The young people were engaged and interesting and interested.”
Mrs Choudhry is also planning a Literary Festival at school in June.
She said: “Writers come in all shapes and sizes and writing can be a good form of therapy. It has been great that something so positive has come out of Covid and it has been so good to get back to normality and be able to invite Chris into school and engage the students in creativity.”
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