Award-winning author visits Chadderton school

The Radclyffe School is currently hosting its very own week-long Literature Festival, celebrating the power of reading.

Throughout the week, a variety of engaging activities have been planned to inspire students.

From character quizzes and golden tickets to free books and VIP reader competitions, the festival is sparking curiosity and conversation across the school.

On Tuesday, the school welcomed Josh Silver, acclaimed author of Happy Head, Amazon’s Best YA Book of the Year 2023 and a 2024 Carnegie Medal for Writing nominee, to speak to Year 9 and 10 students.

During year group assemblies, Josh shared his journey to becoming an author, emphasising the importance of representation in books and media.

He encouraged students to embrace change in pursuit of their passions, reassuring them that it is okay to take different paths in life.

His passion for diverse story-telling encouraged students to seek and share narratives that reflect different experiences and perspectives.

Following the assemblies, the Radclyffe School hosted smaller workshops for selected students, where they explored the fundamental elements of storytelling with Josh.

Together, they collaborated on developing the plot for a dystopian novel, gaining valuable insight into the creative process.

Josh also provided practical exam advice before challenging students to develop their own plotlines based on a title he provided.

He made reading and storytelling accessible to all, demonstrating that literature can be enjoyed in different formats to suit diverse needs and abilities.

At the end of the day, the Student Leadership Team for Wellbeing sat down with Josh for a meaningful discussion on mental health.

They explored coping mechanisms, attitudes towards mental health, and ways they could support their peers. Inspired by their conversation, they designed eye-catching posters to encourage open discussions, using popular hashtags and viral quotes such as “We listen and we don’t judge” and “Spill the tea.”

This initiative successfully connected social trends with mental health awareness and advocacy.

The day was a resounding success.

Both staff and students commented on how enjoyable and thoughtprovoking the sessions were, with some students staying behind to speak with Josh one-on-one about the impact he had made during his visit.

The event was a testament to the importance of reading and the power of literature to inspire and transform lives.

Josh left Radclyffe with a powerful message: “Creativity cannot be graded.”

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