Year 7 students at West Bromwich Collegiate Academy took part in a live virtual author event, joining a national schools session hosted by Waterstones with poet and writer Matt Goodfellow.
The session gave learners the opportunity to hear directly from Goodfellow as he introduced his new novel ‘Six Weeks’. The story follows teenager Alfie Piper as he navigates grief following the death of his mother, alongside strained family relationships and a summer of personal change. Illustrated by Jow Todd-Stanton, the novel explores themes of loss, resilience and identity.
During the workshop, Goodfellow also talked about his approach to writing, the use of poetry as a form of expression and the role of language, accent and dialect in developing voice and character.
He also shared insights into his wider body of work, including his award-winning verse novel ‘The Final Year’, and reflected on his experience as a former primary school teacher in East Manchester. He described how his background in education continues to inform his writing and school-based workshops across the UK.
Associate Principal, Hannah Percival, commented: “Having opportunities to engage with writers plays an important role in our curriculum. It helps students understand that reading and writing are not just classroom skills, but powerful and expressive forms of communication that shape how we understand ourselves and the world around us.
“It’s important that students are given space and encouragement to explore their own voice, build confidence in expressing ideas and recognise that their stories and perspectives matter. This has a lasting impact on both their literacy development and their personal growth.”
Waterstones’ virtual author visits provide free interactive sessions for schools across the UK, offering students direct insight into the writing process and the opportunity to connect learning in the classroom with real-world authorship.
West Bromwich Collegiate Academy continues to prioritise and promote reading for pleasure across its curriculum, with a focus on widening students’ access to contemporary literature and promoting active engagement with creative subjects.
