As part of our ongoing drive to raise attainment in literacy, we are committed to building a culture of reading for pleasure among our pupils. Recently, thanks to an opportunity provided by the Scottish Book Trust, our pupils from St Joseph’s and Portpatrick enjoyed an inspiring morning at Stranraer Academy with celebrated children’s author Martin Stewart.
Stewart is well known for his debut novel Riverkeep and, more recently, his children’s series featuring Sandy Fin. The pupils were thrilled to hear him read from his latest book, Sandy Fin: Operation Splash Landing. His engaging style captured imaginations and opened up conversations about where story ideas come from.
During the workshop, Martin encouraged the children to see how inspiration for writing can come from anywhere; a day at the shore, an unusual animal, or even just a unique name. This practical insight showed our pupils that creativity is within everyone’s reach.
The session ended with a lively question-and-answer opportunity, where pupils asked thoughtful and curious questions about Martin’s work, his journey as an author, and the process of writing books. It was wonderful to see our learners so engaged and motivated.
Links to Learning Frameworks
UNCRC: Supports creativity (Article 29) and freedom of expression (Article 13).
SHANARRI: Builds Nurtured and Successful learners.
SDGs: Links to SDG 4 — Quality Education.
Metaskills: Encourages Creativity, Communication, Curiosity, and Resilience.
Four Capacities: Promotes Successful Learners, Confident Individuals, Responsible Citizens, and Effective Contributors.
