Writers Retreat
Local Primary schools children invited along to a morning workshop of creative writing based on Roald Dahl's Matilda.
Aims
Our prep School had run a fabulous Writing Retreat for our own pupils and we wanted to roll it out to involve pupils form local primary schools.
Background
Children from surrounding schools enjoyed a Matilda-themed Writing Retreat. Over 30 Year 3 and 4 pupils from 8 local primary schools joined forces to finally obliterate the fearsome Miss Trunchbull through the creativity of their writing. The scary Headmistress of Crunchem Hall Primary School (the school in Roald Dahl's @Matilda) prowled the corridors ostensibly forcing the children to write an essay on Hammer Throwing (her pet sport) when actually, they were writing inventive ways to get rid of her. As they read out their brilliant creative writing pieces, The Trunchbull got more and more uncomfortable (at the mention of pink, ghosts, black cats and newts - her pet hates) until she faded away completely - to the great delight of all the children and their parents!
It was a fabulously creative morning and the children were marvellously talented, confident and imaginative! Well done to you all!
Resources
This was held in our Prep School hall and classrooms and was run on a Saturday morningby our own teachers. Refreshments were provided for the children throughout the morning and when parents returned, they were give Bruce Bogtrotter cakes and drinks.
Children took away a goody bag containing writing materials of all varieties - chocolate pencils, seed pencils, notebooks and Matilda jellybeans.
Impact
“Thank you very much for the opportunity, our children enjoyed it very much.”
Rockwell Green Primary School
The children that attended said they loved it – thank you for the opportunity.
Parent
Thank you Wellington School – they had a super time!
Parent
“Thank you, they had a lovely time.”
Heathcoat Primary School
“Thank you for organising the event.
I am so glad it went well.”
Milverton Primary School
“Thank you so much for organising such a super event. Our children came back buzzing and so excited about what happened to Miss Trunchbull! It was all very creative and imaginative and brilliantly well-organised!”
Webbers & Burlescombe Primary Schools
What a fabulous day – such fun, really brilliant, thank you!
Parent
I just wanted to send a hasty missive say a HUGE thank you to all those involved from the boys and I for last Saturday. They absolutely loved it and this came out at tea-time this evening when my son said, ‘Mummy, finally I’ve been taught how to properly story map by Mr Warren!’ He also reported how encouraging the other teachers were – something about highlighting areas that could be expanded and explored…etc. All unprompted and music to our ears.
It was a fab few hours and please keep us posted if you are doing more. Anything else….we’d love to know.
Parent
My son had such a fantastic morning – thank you so much. He was delighted with the goodie bag as well – chocolate pencils and seed pencils – how imaginative! The cake was delicious as well – just like Bruce Bogtrotter!
Parent
Pupil Involvement
Over 40 Year 3 and 4 children joined us for a fabulous morning. They were all from local primary schools, not our own pupils.
Frequency
We run these Writing Retreats each year, with a different theme and focus.
