Oaklands School literature week
February 2005
In February, Subtext, along with a group of parents and school staff, ran a literature week at Oaklands Secondary School in Bethnal Green. We had a fantastic line up of writers – including prize winning authors such as Malorie Blackman, Melvin Burgess and Alan Gibbons - plus graffiti art and performance poetry workshops. Over five days, there were 27 talks and workshops, plus a poetry slam attended by the whole of year 7. Every student in the school attended one or more event (approx. 600).
Comments from students at Oaklands Secondary School:
- ‘It’s a wonderful opportunity and inspires you to create new ideas.’
- ‘We had lots of fun and an opportunity of a lifetime.’
- ‘I learnt that even though authors look old they’re funny and very lively.’
Writing competition winner!
Congratulations to Corey Joseph, who won the Oaklands Literature week 2005 competition, judged by writers Michael Rosen and Catherine Johnson.
Each of the visiting authors wrote the first line of a story, for Oaklands’ students to finish off. Corey chose Malorie Blackman’s line: ‘A shadow fell over him blocking not just sunlight but warmth. He looked up slowly his heart suddenly pounding. It was coming straight towards him.’
Congratulations too go to shortlisted writers, Salma Begum, Jodie Etheridge, Hazira Khan and Shahana Begum Tasmin.
Read Among The Ashes by Corey Joseph
