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Dare to read?

Phoenix High School in west London has launched a new month-long festival celebrating literacy and literature.

Dare to Read will feature an exciting programme of author visits, writing workshops and performances by pupils of their work – with some of their readings backed by the school’s music groups.

The festival is supported by the council’s arts team, the literature development agency Westwords and the Phoenix Neighbourhood Renewal Programme (PNRP) - which is using government regeneration money to fund more than 20 projects, including arts and sports activities, at the school.

Over the month, there will be a programme of activities, designed to inspire and encourage Phoenix students to spend more time reading and writing.

Highlights of Dare to Read include a festival launch in the school library with a visit by Ghanaian performance poet, Nii Parkes, who will be writer-in-residence at the school during the festival.
There will be visits by other authors and performance poets such as comedy poet Jude Simpson, south Indian novelist Preethi Nair, and novelist and playwright Courttia Newland, plus regular lunchtime storytelling sessions for pupils and a bookstall each day.

Dare to Read coincides with National Poetry Day (7 October), National Children’s Book Week (4-10 October) and Black History Month (October).

Viv Bird, Phoenix High’s chair of governors and project director for literacy and social inclusion at the National Literacy Trust, said: ‘Dare to Read is an exciting way to raise the profile of literacy and literature in the school and encourage pupils to develop their reading and writing skills. We are delighted to be working with the council’s arts team and Westwords on this project.’