Famous Authors Inspire LVS Ascot Pupils As School Launches Berkshire Book Award
24 Oct 2016
Pupils from LVS Ascot enjoyed a host of inspiring activities throughout the last month as part of the independent school’s Autumn Literary Festival. The Festival culminated in a visit from Carnegie Medal winning author Tim Bowler who launched the annual Berkshire Book Award on Wednesday 12thOctober.
Tim wowed pupils from secondary schools across Berkshire as LVS Ascot’s 300-seat theatre became the focal point of the launch for the book award which started in 2004. The award recognises the best recently published book for young people, with pupils from over 90 schools involved through nominating, voting and reading the shortlisted entries. Author of over 20 books including the award winning River Boy, Tim Bowler entertained the collection of schools present with anecdotes and stories from his life. He encouraged pupils to have a go at writing and the arts, citing the importance of “being the best you can be”, echoing LVS Ascot’s aim to inspire young people to exceed their expectations.
Head of Learning Resource at LVS Ascot Emma Keeler said: “It was a pleasure to host so many schools and ensure children across Berkshire were able to meet such a famous author. Tim’s readings brought his work to life and encouraged so many pupils to try to emulate him”.
Reading-based poet Hollie McNish was another famous visitor to the all-through school’s Autumn Literary Festival, performing for students in years 10 to 13 to provide a refreshing approach to studies for GCSEs and A-Levels. Hollie, who travels the UK attending many events including the Reading Festival in August, visited LVS Ascot on Wednesday 5th October and received rave reviews from pupils for her warmth, humour and genuine poetry.
The LVS Ascot Autumn Literary Festival, which gave all students from 11 to 18 access to at least one famous author, began on Tuesday 27th September when year 7 pupils went to meet another Carnegie Medal winning author, Philip Reeve, at Henley. Philip, who won the award in 2007 with his book Here Lies Arthur, gave a talk to LVS Ascot pupils and signed copies of his books that his young fans had brought along.
LVS Ascot Library Consultant was delighted with the innovative way the school had helped students engage with reading, commenting: “Our Autumn Literary Festival is a way of getting the whole school involved in literature and poetry. LVS Ascot is very much a reading school and providing access to authors and poets really inspires reading and writing”.
Photo: LVS Ascot students have their books signed by author Philip Reeve