Trent College: Author Visit - Lisa Williamson 2024
Author, Lisa Williamson, visited Trent College to provide an exciting and interactive experience for Year 6 children from external state primary schools, and Year 7 pupils from Trent College. Lisa talked for 45 minutes about her own journey to become a a writer and shared extracts and details from her Bigg School series of books, tackling the topical issue of transition from primary to secondary school. She followed this with a fast and furious Q&A session, before meeting pupils individually in a book signing. Trent Year 7 pupils then had their own Q&A session, sharing their personal transition experience with the visiting Year 6 children.
Aims
The aim of the visit was to give our children, and those from visiting schools, the experience of hearing from a successful, published children's author. By listening to and meeting 'real-life' authors, children are often inspired to read more widely and start writing stories of their own.
Background
The Head of Library Services at Trent College works closely with the External Schools Liaison Manager to identify and create potential opportunities for visiting authors to come to Trent College.
Since 2017, there is always a planned event in September to combine external Year 6 pupils with Trent College Year 7.
Resources
Trent College hosts the event and books and pays for the author to visit. There is no cost to visiting schools to attend.
The hall space is used for the morning, along with the tiered-seating and IT equipment.
Two non-teaching staff organise and manage the event, being present throughout. There are an additional two non-teaching staff that assist during the morning, with escorting teachers and pupils around, and selling books.
Impact
We would like children to leave with a love of reading or an interest to read more widely and to do so for pleasure.
Comments from primary school teachers that attended:
“We found Lisa really inspiring and her passion for writing was clear. The children are all enjoying her books and feel very lucky to have met a real author!” Year 6 teacher, Grange Primary School
"We really enjoyed hearing Lisa last week and her experience at school herself as a child really resonated with many of our children. Many of them could see themselves in Lisa's experiences." Year 6 teacher, Dovedale Primary School
"We absolutely loved visiting Trent College and meeting Lisa. The children we chose to take were all really inspired by her and her story. She pitched her talk perfectly and they were engrossed. I loved that she really carefully considered what is important to them at this time and was not afraid to talk frankly and honestly. Thank you for your time and insight - they haven't put the books down since!" Year 6 teacher, English Martyrs Catholic Voluntary Academy.
Pupil Involvement
138 Year 6 pupils from 4 external primary schools, including 12 teachers/teaching assistants and 7 parents were involved.
92 Year 7 pupils from Trent College, including 5 teachers and 4 non-teachers.
There were 4 Year 7 Trent College students who participated in the transition Q&A session at the end, with the visiting Year 6 children.
Frequency
This is a one-off event with Lisa Williamson but Trent hosts an author visit every year in September/October to combine external Year 6 pupils with Trent Year 7.
