Students inspired by author in National Story Telling Week

As part of National Storytelling Week, our Second Year students have been exploring how stories connect to sound, music, and the things they enjoy in everyday life.

A real highlight was taking part in an online workshop with Jeffrey Boakye, an award-winning British author, broadcaster and educator whose writing focuses on music, culture and identity. Boakye shared his passion for storytelling and spoke to students about how creativity and personal experiences can spark powerful writing. The students were all really engaged by the workshop, with lively discussions taking place afterwards.

Alongside this, students have been engaging in a range of creative activities in the school library, giving them the chance to explore books, poetry and storytelling in a relaxed and inspiring environment. These activities have helped students see how reading and books are closely connected to their own interests and experiences. Ahead of the workshop, students had to write down five songs which they felt helped to tell their own story (inspired by Jeffrey Boakye’s BBC Radio 4 Add to Playlist show) and these are displayed in the library.

Students will now have the exciting opportunity to write their own poems and submit them to a national writing competition. This opportunity allows them to share their ideas on a wider stage, build confidence in their writing, and celebrate the enjoyment of reading and creativity beyond the classroom.

We are looking forward to seeing the fantastic work they produce!

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What is National Storytelling Week?

Created by Society for Storytelling, this fantastic annual event is a joyful celebration of the power of sharing stories. Stories teach us about the world; they allow us to step into someone else’s shoes and feel empathy; they help us to relax and escape and they can help develop essential literacy skills. National Storytelling Week 2026 is a celebration of oral storytelling, reading and writing for pleasure. At a time when young people’s writing and reading enjoyment levels are at their lowest, National Storytelling Week has never been more important.