Year 7 students took part in a fantastic workshop on Thursday 6th June led by author Gary Toward who came to share his inspiration for writing the novel “The Magpie”, set in World War I.

His presentation took students on a journey through time, incorporating the history of the period. The main character in the book is based on the author’s own experience as a child growing up in a mining family, the story starting in the north east of England and ending in the trenches of France. Students then had the opportunity to produce their own piece of poetry, learning the story of Valentine Joe Strudwick, reputedly England’s youngest military casualty of the First World War.

We are grateful to Mr Toward for taking the time to come into school and deliver such an inspiring, thoughtful and inspirational session with our students, re-enforcing the message that writing and reading are key skills for whatever path students decide to take in the future.

As a result of the enthusiasm and interest shown by the students, the local bookshops can probably expect to see a number of copies of “The Magpie” flying off the shelves anytime soon!