Author is class act
Writer heads back to school
Children at a West Lothian primary school will be helped in their love of reading by an author who has taken up a residency in the school.
Christina Banach will work with the pupils of Knightsridge Primary School on various projects after taking up an author residency at the school from the Scottish Book Trust.
The Live Literature School Residency Programme, which is funded by the Walter Scott Giving Committee and delivered by Scottish Book Trust, will run across the 201718 school year and finish by Easter 2018.
Christina Banach is a former head teacher who lives in Scotland with her husband and their two rescue dogs.
She is currently at work on her next book, a contemporary mystery set in the Scottish Highlands. Her novel, Minty, was a Scottish Book Trust Teen’s Book of the Month, shortlisted for the SCBWI Crystal Kite Award and was nominated for the Cybils.
Christina Banach said: “I’m delighted to be Knightsridge Primary School’s Writer in Residence.
“It’s a privilege to be given the opportunity of sharing my passion for reading and writing with everyone. I hope to inspire and fire the pupils’ imaginations, and encourage an enjoyment of writing by working towards a successful outcome.”
Allison Kennedy, Headteacher of Knightsridge Primary School, said: “We are delighted to be selected for the Live Literature School Residency programme and are really looking forward to working with and learning from the author. At Knightsridge Primary School we are very ambitious for our learners and we have high expectations for all.
“Over the past year we have been promoting a reading culture, developing vocabulary and transferring this work into children’s writing. Working with an author will enrich learning experiences for both pupils and staff. We know this will inspire, motivate and encourage our learners to release that each one of them has their own unique story to tell and that they too can let their writers’ voices be heard.”
Marc Lambert, CEO of Scottish Book Trust, said: “Bringing authors into the classroom makes books and storytelling come alive for pupils, and inspires their own writing and creativity.
“These residencies are a wonderful opportunity for the school community to work closely with a talented author over a period of time and create activities that can have lasting impact for the pupils. We are looking forward to seeing the work they produce and hearing about the experiences they have during the residencies.”
The Scottish Book Trust announced earlier this year it would expand the Live Literature School Residencies programme for 2017-18.
The programme will offers 10 schools, early years or nurseries in Scotland a fully-funded author-inresidence.
Each residency will provide 12 sessions carried out by one author from over 700 professional writers, poets, playwrights, spoken word artists, illustrators, graphic novelists, screenwriters and storytellers.