Last Thursday, Sweyne Park School had the privilege of welcoming Year 5 pupils from Glebe, Downhall, and St Nicholas Primary Schools for a spectacular Festival of Literacy.
The event was filled with creativity, inspiration, and a genuine love for reading and writing!
The day began with a special talk from the talented and successful author, Lisa Williamson. Lisa, known for her popular Young Adult novels, has recently released several titles in her B.I.G.G. School series, with the fifth book set for release this September.
These books offer a humorous and empathetic look at the challenges faced by Year 7 pupils in secondary school, and are loved by readers for their relatable characters and realistic themes.
Lisa shared her personal journey with the pupils, revealing how she went from being a shy child who created stories in her mind to becoming an author. Before she found her true passion for writing, Lisa had a career as a professional actor.
She spoke openly about the ups and downs of her career and how her love for storytelling eventually led her back to writing.
Our budding authors were then treated to an exciting Q&A session where Lisa answered some brilliant questions from the primary school pupils. Ashling and Ravi, two keen participants, won a fantastic prize: their names will be featured as characters in Lisa’s next B.I.G.G. School book, which is currently in the works!
Ashling asked Lisa what advice she would give to her main characters, and Lisa responded with some wise words:
To Lola (Best Friends Forever): “Don’t ever change.”
To Daniel (Double Drama): “Don’t worry about what other people may think.”
To Astrid (Secret Crush): “You do you! Having faith to be yourself.”
To A.J. (Scaredy-Cat): “Being brave doesn’t mean you’re not scared – it’s about facing your fears.”
Ravi asked Lisa who her best friend was, and Lisa shared how lucky she is to have several close friends, to whom she dedicates her books.
After the talk, Lisa kindly signed copies of her books, which Waterstones, Southend, had generously provided at a discounted price, giving the students a lasting memory of the event.
The excitement continued with a series of rotating workshops designed to further spark the pupils’ creativity. Pupils from Glebe Primary took part in three inspiring sessions: a writing workshop with Lisa herself, an English workshop led by Mrs. Waghorn on how to structure a story, and a fun Drama workshop with Miss White.
It was an inspiring and energetic morning that truly ignited the pupils’ imaginations. Everyone agreed: the Festival of Literacy was a huge success, and a fun-filled day to remember!
We can’t wait for the next opportunity to celebrate reading and writing with our local schools!
If you have any stories and/or photos that you would like to share, please contact us at pupilservices@sweynepark.com
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Join XCel Hockey for two exciting days of field hockey fun and skill-building!
📅 Dates: Thursday 28th & Friday 29th August 09am – 3pm
📍 Location: Warners Bridge, Park SS2 5RE
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