St Lawrence’s pupils create their own children’s book

The adventures of a space-travelling boy and his hamster have seen their creators become published authors, after budding writers at St Lawrence’s Catholic Primary in Byker took part in a special reading and writing programme.

The Year 5 pupils have been involved in a three-year project with Seven Stories, which has seen them work together to create their own story to be turned into a printed book.

Head of School Charlotte Robson has been following the children’s progress.

“Seven Stories had funding from the Helen Bailey Trust to work for three years with a class from Newcastle,” she explained. “Our Year 5 class were chosen when they were in year 4, so we are right in the middle of the project.

“Helen Bailey was a children’s book author who sadly died, but her family wanted to support creative writing in less affluent areas.

“We have taken part in creative writing workshops with Seven Stories before, but this is the first extended project we have taken part in.”

She continued: “The children met with Daisy Fitzpatrick from Seven Stories twice a month, reading books, exploring genres, and enhancing their vocabulary to create wonderful stories.

“The children were asked, ‘If you could write a story about anyone, anything, any adventure, what would it be?’ Through a democratic vote, they decided on Anthony Gordon and his pet hamster Legend being sucked into a black hole, ending up in Antarctica, and finishing in St James Park – with many adventures along the way.”

The project, which will continue as the children move into Year 6, has also allowed the young writers to share their talents, with an event where the class read copies of their printed book to younger year groups at the school.

Mrs Robson added: “All of Year 5 took part. They read to small groups, no more than ten in a group, with pupils from Reception, Year 1, and Year 2. Each reading session lasted around ten minutes.

“This project is incredibly important. It shows our Year 5 pupils that they are writers, and that their stories and voices matter. If we want pupils to feel motivated to write, it is important that their writing has a purpose. The fact that the class were able to share a published story they had written shows that writing matters.

“It also develops reading for pleasure. With it being the National Year of Reading, we are working hard to show that reading should be an enjoyable, shared activity. Having the Year 5 class read to the younger pupils showed them that everyone can and should be a reader.”