Year 6 pupils at Wallbrook Primary Academy welcomed award-winning children’s author Christopher Edge for a special visit focused on creativity, storytelling and the power of reading.
Edge visited the Academy to talk about his bestselling novel Escape Room, which pupils have been studying and using as inspiration for their own creative writing. During the session, he shared insights into his career as an author, explored the ideas and themes behind the book and encouraged pupils to develop their own approaches to storytelling.
A thrilling adventure centred on teamwork, problem-solving and saving the world, Escape Room follows twelve-year-old Ami and her teammates as they take on a series of challenges inside a mysterious escape room unlike any other. The novel was selected as The Times Children’s Book of the Week and has been praised for its fast-paced plot and thought-provoking themes.
Christopher Edge is an award-winning children’s author whose books have been translated into more than twenty languages. His novels, including The Many Worlds of Albie Bright, The Jamie Drake Equation, The Infinite Lives of Maisie Day and The Longest Night of Charlie Noon, have all been nominated for the CILIP Carnegie Medal. He has also received several awards for his writing, including the STEAM Children’s Book Prize and the Brilliant Book Award.
The visit was funded by Bookmark Reading Charity, which works with primary schools and community groups to support children who need additional help with reading. The charity provides one-to-one reading support, books and resources to help schools develop strong reading cultures. As part of its support for Wallbrook Primary Academy, Bookmark also donated £50 worth of Christopher Edge’s books, enabling pupils to continue exploring his work.
School Principal, Lorna McGregor, commented: “Reading is at the heart of our children’s learning at the Academy. It helps them develop their understanding of the world, build confidence and explore ideas beyond their own experiences. Meeting authors gives children the chance to see where stories begin and encourages them to recognise that they too can be creative thinkers and writers. These experiences support our curriculum by deepening children’s engagement with books and inspiring a genuine enjoyment of reading.”
Edge’s visit formed part of Wallbrook Primary Academy’s wider commitment to providing pupils with meaningful reading experiences and access to a diverse range of authors and texts. Through collaborations with organisations such as Bookmark Reading Charity, the Academy continues to support children in developing their confidence, curiosity and enjoyment as readers.
