WORK FROM FIRST STORY SCHOOLS
In all our schools, we work with writers, teachers and students to produce an anthology of work at the end of the First Story programme. Each anthology is edited by the school’s Writer-in-Residence. You can read their comments on the First Story programme, and extracts from each school’s anthology here.
-
In January, eighty-five students gathered at Somerset House to take part in workshops with First Story writers. Walking around the Courthauld Institute, they wrote about the paintings that inspired them. As one of our students put it ‘the best thing about the visit was having a day to spend creatively, not bound by school curriculum’. Here’s what they produced.
-
“Like many writers, the group of Year 10 and 11 students were experts at avoiding the final draft up until the last minute, but for every person the adrenalin surge that came with handing in the final pieces of work was thrilling.”
-
“It has been a brilliant and inspiring journey getting to know the pupils of Charles Edward Brooke First Story group.”
-
“No one can teach talent or imagination, or demand original thinking, but a writing tutor can encourage self-discovery.”
-
“This book is full of wonderful stories, and I’d say it was only the tip of the iceberg if that weren’t the kind of cliché these brilliant young writers would never dream of using.”
-
“My favourite part of the class is when we read our work out. Most of the time I have done the exercise along with everyone else and I read mine out too.”
-
“It all came together. By the end of the first session I was pleased, and so was Alex Kelly, their teacher.”
-
“We started with a large group of interested pupils, but the lure of stage, music and intensive revision resulted in only the very dedicated able to ward off those other temptations term after term.”
-
“Welcome to Heart Full of Stories, the new anthology from the Holland Park First Story Writing Group.”
-
“I don’t remember doing creative writing at school. For reasons I can’t quite fathom, creativity and education have always made uneasy bedfellows, both then and now.”
