News

On Friday 26 June, during English lessons, our Year 8 students took part in an engaging workshop with author Iqbal Hussein, writer of The Night I Borrowed Time, as part of the National Year of Reading.

Students had the opportunity to hear directly from the author about his inspiration for the novel, his writing process, and the themes explored within the book. Iqbal also spoke about the importance of increasing South Asian representation in children's literature and shared how public libraries and charity shops helped him access books as a child, reinforcing the message that reading can be accessible to everyone. 

Students were highly engaged throughout, with memorable moments including one student excitedly realising they shared the same name as the author, another producing a thoughtful summary of his childhood, and others confidently participating in discussions and activities. It was wonderful to see so many students leave the workshop inspired by both Iqbal's story and his passion for reading. 

The Night I Borrowed Time is available to borrow from the school library for any students who would like to continue reading. Students looking for further reading inspiration may also wish to explore the Year 8 Recommended Reading List. 

Students who feel inspired to develop their own creative writing may wish to enter the Inclusive Voices Short Story Competition. Further details can be found later in the newsletter in the Community and Enrichment section. 

Pauline Lawrence
Library Manager & Communications Coordinator