Author Kevin Crossley-Holland visits Exeter School

Exeter School was privileged to receive a visit from renowned author, Kevin Crossley-Holland, who is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and President of the School Library Association on Tuesday 10 May.

Twenty-two selected pupils in Years 7 and 8 enjoyed a creative writing workshop with the author, who immediately grabbed their attention and challenged their thinking with some Anglo Saxon and modern riddles to solve.

He then went on to discuss with them what a good story should comprise. Top of the list was the need to be imaginative and show originality but the importance of leaving a lasting impression was also emphasised. He urged pupils to remember to embrace all their senses in their writing and to try word play. His message was that writers need to fall in love with language and to relish it.

Pupils were then given time to start a composition and offered the opportunity to submit it to the author for comments at a later date, once they have honed it, with a chance to win a prize. Eva Casey in Year 8 said afterwards that she found the session ‘really inspiring’ whilst Toby Grier in year 7 enjoyed it ‘because it was different from a normal lesson and for the variety of approach’. Finlay Tabor in Year 7 said he thought it was good that Kevin gave the pupils tips for writing and went home afterwards inspired to finish off the composition he started at the workshop.

In the afternoon, the whole of Year 7 had the chance to hear the author speak about his historical novels at a talk in the Andrews Hall. They were joined by a small Year 7 group from The Maynard School. Pupils were able to question the author at the end of the session and many chose to purchase a book for signing, given them chance to speak to the author personally.

Afterwards the author took time out in the library to talk to Mrs Taylor, Librarian, and was most impressed with the medieval themed display that had been created for the visit by members of Year 7 Library Club who have all won book prizes for their contributions: George Heeley, Beth and Katie Ledger, Daisy Purchall, Joanna Reynolds, Adam Stratton-Keay and William Wood. He was also delighted that a love of reading is alive and well at Exeter School and that so many pupil librarians help to run the library.