On the telly…

Not one but two camera crews turned up to Ysgol Esgob Morgan on Friday to film Wales Minister for Education and Skills Leighton Andrews’ visit. Mr Andrews and his assistant, Ann Jones, had taken time out of their busy schedules to hear all about head teacher Tim Redgrave’s brilliant Patron of Reading idea.  It was a hectic but fun morning with both BBC Wales Today and ITV Wales interviewing us all in turn. I began by reading a short story to everyone in assembly. As you can imagine I was a wee bit  nervous – it’s not often I have TV cameras and MPs watching me read – but then I looked at all the children and my nerves evaporated. I knew I needn’t worry; the story would do its magic. I chose ‘The Snooks’ by Harcourt Williams (p.91- 93  in ‘A Little Aloud’ edited by Angela MacMillan) because it’s funny and allows for audience participation.  I was right ; it went down a treat.

After that the children carried on as normal and it was question time. First Tim and I had a quiet meeting with Leighton Andrews and Ann Jones. We bowled them over with our zeal and, just in case they weren’t convinced, we brought in our  secret weapon; Matti the Mighty, whose reading has really taken off since the scheme started.  Meeting over, we all took it in turns to go in front of the cameras, swapping in and out. Both TV crews stayed way longer than I thought they would. It was gratifying to see they were genuinely impressed by the enthusiasm for the project.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ITV Wales interviewing Tim Redgrave

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Y6 took their moment of stardom in their stride

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MP Leighton Andrews (right) talking to Matthew Richards from the BBC Wales Today programme

 

You can see the full BBC coverage, including my interview here.  I didn’t come across too badly, I don’t think *squirms*

 

What’s great is that the patron of reading initiative is already spreading. Michaela Morgan became the second POR, at a primary school in Brighton. Recently Nicola Morgan became Scotland’s first POR with John Dougherty, Joe Craig and Cathy MacPhail all hot on our heels. I’d love it if every school had a patron. Like all great ideas it’s such a simple one. A school chooses an author, illustrator, poet or storyteller to be their exclusive patron for three years. During that time the patron supports the school in their shared mission – to spread the love of reading. How they do that is up to the school and patron – that’s the joy of it. So far at Esgob Morgan (8 months in post) I’ve:

• Visited four times
• Instigated the Summer Reading Challenge Cup
• Written to the school several times
• Shared blog exchanges
• Sent signed copies of not only my books but other authors’ too, such as Tom Palmer and Allan Ahlberg
• Had feedback about a draft play from Y5 experts
• Read books I wouldn’t have read thanks to teacher recommendations
• Made new friends
• Written a personalised statement for the school’s revised English curriculum

 

Trailblazing Esgob Morgan has:

• Extended its library because pupils are using it so much
• Used my books as a basis for some of its lessons
• Individual pupils have developed a love of reading and gained in confidence as a result of my input
• Held a book quiz for all staff
• Fostered even further (the school was always proactive) a ‘buzz’ about reading
• Been in the telly
• Appeared in the Times Educational Supplement and on Reading Zone and The Reading Agency websites (see side bar for links)

… to be continued

… with aplomb…