Smithdon High School has held its third annual Literary Festival, with this year’s event extending over a two-week period for the first time.

Our celebration of all things book-related incorporated World Book Day on 7 March, and included a wealth of themed events and visits.

The Hunger Games Day saw the school library transformed into fictional Panem, the North American country featured in the dystopian trilogy, which was written by American author Suzanne Collins and comprises The Hunger Games, Catching Fire and Mockingjay.

Various activities centred around the districts in the series, and there was also a Scavenger Hunt based on the books.

World Book Day itself saw staff and students alike dress as their favourite fictional characters, while aspiring writers could take part in our 500-word short story competition, and creative types had the opportunity to craft their own bookmarks.

Budding journalists from Year 9 honed their skills on Journalism Day, when reporter Chris Bishop from The Eastern Daily Press put them through their paces, and Cambridge professor Claire Wilkinson also paid a visit to Smithdon, where she gave an interactive lecture on art in literature to a group of Year 9 and 10 students.

LGBTQ fiction writer Simon James Green, whose works include Noah Can’t Even, Noah Could Never and the Carnegie-nominated Alex in Wonderland, was another Festival visitor, hosting a workshop for a group from Year 7 and 8 at our school, which is part of the West Norfolk Academies Trust.

Organised by Smithdon’s librarian, Marie Taylor, the event was supported by staff across the school, including ICT Teacher Sam Fairweather, who presented a session on newspaper page layout, Deputy Head Sarah Robinson, who answered questions at the Journalism Day press conference, and Head of English Amanda Wright.

“Reading is central to our lives,” said Ms Wright. “World Book Day and our Literary Festival give us the opportunity to celebrate the written word and characters who help to shape us.”

“The buzz around books initiates conversations about books that are important to us,” she added.  “We want students to feel confident discussing texts that are important to them, whether the character is a fictional creation or a person of inspiration.

“In the past, I dressed as a fictional character. This year, however, I dressed as ultramarathoner and author Sally McRae.

“Her message is about choosing strength over fear in every situation in life, and, as a teacher, that’s what I want to inspire in my students.”