Author Visit Inspires LVS Ascot Students To Be Creative
10 May 2017
Students in the junior and senior school at LVS Ascot were captivated by a visit from Irish author Dave Rudden on Thursday 20th April, who helped the school deliver its inspiring education with a talk in the theatre and book signing session with his young fans.
A short film of highlights from Dave’s visit can be viewed and shared here.
LVS Ascot’s 300-seat theatre was packed full of eager students from the independent all-ability school and Easthampstead Park Community School who were invited to share the occasion, and the author of Knights Of The Borrowed Dark and The Forever Court did not disappoint. He talked to students about ways they can improve what they write, such as using every word as a weapon and not being afraid to fail as they need to experiment to succeed.
A question and answer session gave several students the opportunity to win signed copies of Dave Rudden’s books, and he then took a look around the LVS Ascot Learning Resource Centre which he was hugely impressed by, comparing the depth of facilities to those available at a public library, before signing copies of his books for young fans and answering their personal questions on what they can do to improve.
Dave Rudden said: “Today’s visit was so much fun. You can really tell when the kids are readers and passionate about books and they are here. It is clear that LVS Ascot is an excellent reading school and that will stand students in good stead as a basis for creative writing”.
Mrs Emma Keeler, Head of Learning Resources at LVS Ascot, highlighted the importance of meeting authors to inspire and encourage the development of reading and writing skills in young people: “There is strong evidence linking reading for pleasure with educational outcomes, as well as other health and social benefits. Bringing an author to the student breaks down the idea that writing is something other people do and encourages them to be creative themselves. Dave Rudden made our students laugh but also demystified the writing process. It was clear that students were inspired to excel and flourish by the visit, and that is the school’s ethos in all areas”.
Photo: Excited LVS Ascot students meet author Dave Rudden