Bridport Literary Festival: Talks at John Colfox Academy

Bridport Literary Festival was held from November 3 to November 9, and saw an array of bestselling authors and famous faces in attendance. 

READ MORE: Bridport Literary Festival 2024 proves to be a bestseller

Among them were children's Laureate Joseph Coelho, classicist Daisy Dunn and poet Gill Barr, who visited Sir John Colfox Academy in Bridport to give talks, answer questions and sign books.

Poet Laureate Joseph Coelho giving a talk to students from Colfox School, Bridport Primary, St Mary's and Burton Bradstock Schools (Image: Sir John Colfox Academy) Year 7 students from the academy were joined by pupils from Bridport Primary School, Burton Bradstock CE Primary School and St Mary’s Primary School. All schools are part of the Initio Learning Trust.

Students got the opportunity to hear Mr Coelho read his book Relic Hamilton and the Genie Hunter and ask him questions about his writing career.

Daisy in Year 7 said: “His book is all about genies and genie hunters. The way he spoke about it made me want to read it. It sounded exciting and it was interesting to hear how he became a writer.”

Poet Laureate Joseph Coelho with Year 7 students from left Winnie, Maddie, Phoebe and Etta (Image: Sir John Colfox Academy) Members of the public joined Colfox’s Ancient History, Ancient Greek and Latin students for a talk by classicist and acclaimed author Daisy Dunn, who discussed  her new book The Missing Thread, a New History of the Ancient World Through the Women Who Shaped it.

She said: “I so enjoyed speaking at the Sir John Colfox Academy, as part of the Bridport Literary Festival, it is brilliant news that the academy has launched a Classics Hub so pupils have the chance to learn Greek, Latin and Ancient History.”     

The Classics Hub at the Sir John Colfox Academy was launched last year in response to students' growing interest in studying the ancient world.   

READ MORE: Sir John Colfox School offers classical studies to students

Millie, in Year 10, said: "I really enjoyed the lecture, it was interesting to hear more about the lives of women in the ancient world. We got to ask Daisy questions and chat to her at the end, it was fascinating to hear about her book.”

Classicist and Acclaimed Author Daisy Dunn with Ancient History Student Millie who is in Year 10 (Image: Sir John Colfox Academy) Poet, tutor and former Colfox English teacher Gill Barr also held a poetry workshop for students interested in becoming writers. He said the students were a "delight" and had "capacious imaginations."

Adam Teasdale, head of Sixth Form, who introduced the authors, said: “It was great to welcome Bridport Literary Festival to Colfox once again, our students enjoyed the talks - which were fascinating - and loved meeting Joseph Coelho and Daisy Dunn.

"Our thanks to both of them. We were delighted to welcome local primary schools, who are also part of Initio, our growing learning trust.”