Students have been stepping into a world of culture this term, enjoying a mix of theatre trips, author visits and creative workshops aimed at inspiring a lifelong love of reading and the arts.

At Great Sankey High School, students have been taking part in a wide range of activities and visits as part of a two-week Literary Festival.

Young people from Years 8, 9 and 10 took a trip to the Liverpool Empire Theatre to watch a National Theatre production of Dear England. For many, it was their very first theatre trip and their first chance to see a live performance.

This was followed by a visit from The National Theatre to the school, where they delivered an inspiring assembly for Year 8 focused on storytelling and what young people envision for the future of England.

A smaller group of students who visited the Liverpool Empire also took part in a hands-on workshop, where they explored their chosen themes and ended the session by writing a collective letter to the country, sharing their hopes and aspirations for the future.

As part of the festival, Year 7 students enjoyed a visit from author Sophie Anderson, who spoke about her love of storytelling and shared how folklore and her family heritage inspire her magical tales. Students will be studying The House with Chicken Legs after Easter, and Sophie’s visit provided a wonderful introduction to the world of her stories.

The school also welcomed children’s author Mark Illis, who delivered an inspiring talk about what motivates him as a writer. During the session, Year 8 students learned how authors create stories and develop characters, while also discovering simple techniques they can use to spark and build their own ideas.

At Bradshaw Primary School, all pupils took part in a poetry workshop with poet Paul Delaney. The sessions helped the children gain experience and grow in confidence as they prepared and performed their own poems.

Burtonwood Community Primary School had a visit from author Carol McMahon, who read her short stories to Year 2 and spoke to the children about her love of books and writing. She then joined other pupils in the hall to share more stories.

These experiences have helped students deepen their understanding of how stories, poetry and theatre are created, while inspiring them to explore their own creativity.