We are very much looking forward to welcoming you to
4 – 13 October 2024
We all know the importance of reading for pleasure and the positive impact being a reader or being read to can have on the life chances of children. What better way to get your students excited about reading than the opportunity to meet their favourite authors or discover a whole host of new writers and books?
Every year we welcome over 12,000 children, young people and their teachers to our Festival Village to discover the joy of books, immerse themselves in stories and be inspired by the power of words and imagination.
We are excited to share this year’s programme with you and look forward to seeing you in October.
Cooksley
Jawando is an author and screenwriter whose
novels shine a light on important issues for young people and advocate for
Danielle has curated events for KS4 and KS5 students and the theme for her curation is ‘ Writing for Change’.
for these icons throughout the brochure
Book prices are featured for pupils and teachers wishing to buy books
Workshops. Schools will be charged for two copies of the author’s book to be collected after the events
There are plenty of free activities to discover on site.
THEWOODWILD
Walk-about performances
Look out for your favourite book characters parading around the Festival Village.
Book Signings
Bring your children or young people to our Waterstones Bookshops. Meet the authors after their events, have your books signed and browse the shelves for the latest releases and firm favourites.
Storytelling
Traditional storyteller Hannah Moore will be spinning wild and wonderful folk and fairy tales, myths and legends from around the world. Escape to magical realms as the epic quests of gods, goddesses, monsters, animals and bold young heroines and heroes are brought vividly to life. Find out more about registering your interest on page 25.
The Clockwork Conspiracy Trail
Take part in a thrilling treasure hunt full of cryptic clues and secret codes. A fiendish villain has been wreaking havoc with Cheltenham’s clocks, and only you can uncover their secrets and stop their sinister plan.
Inspired by Sam Sedgman’s bestselling adventure story The Clockwork Conspiracy
Pick up your trail sheet from The Den.
Arts and Crafts
Drop in to The Den and choose from a selection of creative activities. No booking required.
Secondary School Students
See our full Festival programme brochure for information on free events which may be of interest to secondary school students at The Huddle stage in the Feast café during your visit. Programme announced on 9 September 2024.
Covered Picnic Area
Waterstones Children’s Bookshop
Story Shack
The Den
Reception and KS1
Years 1–2
Mariajo Ilustrajo: I Hate Love Books
The Hive
£7.50 per pupil. R and Year 1
A magical event brimming with storytelling, drawing, and colouring with picture book maker Mariajo Ilustrajo Listen to her latest book, I Hate Love Books, join in with the draw-along and help Mariajo fill a giant book. This thrilling adventure celebrates the power of getting lost in the right book, appealing to both readers and non-readers alike.
SESSION TIMES BOOKING CODE 10am – 11am LS30
£12.99
Martha Maps It Out in Time
Regency Suite, Queens Hotel
£8.50 per pupil. Years 1-2
Join author and illustrator
Leigh Hodgkinson on a journey through time with her brilliant picture book Martha Maps It Out in Time, packed with cool facts, fun details and amazing maps. Leigh’s fun, interactive workshop will take you through different maps as you follow Martha meeting dinosaurs, mammoths and more. Then, think about your time on Planet Earth by creating your very own ‘Map of MY Time’.
Get your pencils and notebooks ready for an inktastic event. Author and illustrator Adeola Sokunbi introduces the wonderful world of Destiny Ink, who uses creativity to overcome her worries. Expect cosy, interactive storytelling and a colourful doodle workshop that will help you unleash your own imagination and celebrate the magic of creativity.
SESSION TIMES BOOKING CODE 11.45am – 12.45pm LS23
£6.99
The Great Big Dinosaur Show
Garden Theatre
£7.50 per pupil. Years 1-2
Which dinosaur had teeth as big as a banana? Which dinosaur weighed the same as 10,000 cats? And why is a chicken in this show? Join poet Simon Mole and musician Gecko for a morning of poems, raps and songs about your favourite prehistoric protagonists (and some you haven’t heard of yet!). Get your groove on to some Jurassic classics.
SESSION TIMES BOOKING CODE 10 – 11am LS21
£16.99
Alex T. Smith: Astrid and the Space Cadets
Garden Theatre
£7.50 per pupil. Years 1-2
5, 4, 3, 2, 1... lift off with author-illustrator
Alex T. Smith and meet Astrid Atomic, your typical six year old until the lights go out at bedtime. Then, she becomes a space cadet aboard Stardust, her trusty spaceship. Join Astrid and her friends on the Stardust for a thrilling, out-of-thisworld mission and space adventure.
Joseph Coelho: Poems and Stories
Garden Theatre
£7.50 per pupil. R and Year 1
Join previous Waterstones Children’s Laureate, Joseph Coelho, for a fantastic, fun-packed performance of poems and stories. From smiley poems to spooky poems, My Beautiful Voice to Our Tower, Joseph shows how inventive and imaginative you can be with words. Join in with his playful Poetry Prompts.
Chloe Savage: The Search for the Giant Arctic Jellyfish
The Hive
£7.50 per pupil. Years 1-2
Discover what magic lies beneath the ocean at the northernmost tip of the world with author and illustrator
Chloe Savage. Follow Dr Morley and her tireless crew of scientists on their search for the elusive giant jellyfish, delight in the detailed expedition illustrations, release your inner explorer and craft your own jellyfish character.
Ed Vere: The Elephant and the Sea
The Hive
£7.50 per pupil. R and Year 1
Be an artist with author and illustrator of How to Be a Lion, Ed Vere. Join him for a salty story time celebrating his new picture book The Elephant and the Sea with big elephants, small boats, and waves of bravery. Ed will be bringing his crayons and drawing his favourite characters, and you can get drawing too.
The Search for the Giant Arctic Jellyfish
The Search for Carmella £12.99
The joy that children get from visiting the site and listening to an author is always inspirational. Teacher
Catherine
Rayner: Otto the TOP Dog and other Animal Stories
The Times and Sunday Times Forum
£7.50 per pupil. R, Years 1–2
Author and illustrator, Catherine Rayner returns to explore big feelings in Otto the TOP Dog, about a sausage dog who can’t say no. Join in the storytelling, look inside Catherine’s sketchbook and enjoy live drawing of Arlo the Lion Who Couldn’t Sleep and Victor the Wolf with Worries Have your pencils and notebooks at the ready for the Otto draw-along too in this gentle entertaining event.
SESSION TIMES BOOKING CODE
10.30 – 11.30am LS56
£12.99
Jim Smith: How to Be a Genius Kid
Garden Theatre
£7.50 per pupil. Years 1-2
Get super brainy with zero effort thanks to Waldo Pancake, alias Jim Smith, author and illustrator of the Barry Loser books. Why is misspelling a sign of grate intelly-genz? What’s the link between hours and finger bones? Why does pavement rain smell delicious?
Join Jim for a zany, laugh-out-loud graphic novel extravaganza with live drawing and learn How to Be a Genius Kid
SESSION TIMES BOOKING CODE 12 – 1pm LS36
£9.99
There are plenty of free activities to discover on site
Storytelling Sessions
Join us in Story Shack for wild and wonderful folk and fairy tales from around the world.
See page 25 for full details on registering your interest for a session
Meet the Author
Bring your children or young people to our Waterstones Bookshops after the events to meet the author and have your books signed.
See page 2 for full details on all our free activities
Reception and KS1 Day Planner
We feel incredibly lucky to have the Festival on our doorstep, it is always a fantastic experience for both the younger and older children. Teacher
It Out In Time with Leigh Hodgkinson
Martha Maps It Out In
with
Adeola Sokunbi: Destiny Ink
Show
Joseph Coelho: Poems and Stories
Chloe Savage: The Search for the Giant Arctic Jellyfish
Ed Vere: The Elephant and the Sea
Catherine Rayner: Otto the TOP Dog and other Animal Stories
Jim Smith: How to Be a Genius Kid
Alex T. Smith: Astrid and the Space Cadets
Mariajo Ilustrajo: I Hate Love Books
Key Stage 2 Years 3–6
Sam Sedgman: The
Clockwork Conspiracy
Garden Theatre
£7.50 per pupil. Years 5-6
Follow aspiring inventor Isaac Turner on a trail of clues around London’s most famous landmarks. Uncover a sinister plot in a race against time itself with author and confirmed nerd Sam Sedgman. Discover the incredible science behind time and how it inspired his thrilling new mystery adventure, The Clockwork Conspiracy
Greg Jenner: Chaotic History
The Times and Sunday Times Forum
£7.50 per pupil. Years 4, 5, 6
Join historian and chart-topping You’re Dead to Me podcaster Greg Jenner, as he goes back in time to explore Roman Britain. Expect myth-busting, quick-fire quizzes and discover mind-boggling truths about everything from Roman gods and emperors to invasions and life in a fort. So hold on tight because this isn’t your typical history lesson – get ready for a fact-packed, hilarious, and entertaining event.
Tọlá Okogwu: Onyeka and the Heroes of the Dawn
Garden Theatre
£7.50 per pupil. Years 4-5 Hidden agendas. Lost powers. Heart-pounding twists. Meet author of the Onyeka superhero adventure series, Tọ lá Okogwu. Join us for a captivating journey celebrating individuality with Onyeka and her friends at the mysterious Academy of the Sun. Who knows? You might even uncover your own hidden superpowers and unleash the hero within. SESSION
Make Your Own Mystery with Sharna Jackson
Regency Suite, Queens Hotel
£8.50 per pupil. Years 5-6
Make your own mystery with author Sharna Jackson. In this fun and fastpaced session, delve into the three Ps – people, plot and place. Together with your classmates you’ll choose a setting, develop detectives, select suspicious suspects and call out the culprit, tying it all together with a tantalising title. SESSION
£7.99
£7.99
Sheena Dempsey: Pablo and Splash
The Hive
£7.50 per pupil. Year 3
Prepare for a side-splitting comic book escapade with time-travelling penguins Pablo and Splash as they journey back to the age of the dinosaur. Together, you, and author-illustrator Sheena Dempsey, will craft a graphic novel strip live. Unmissable for graphic novel fans and aspiring illustrators alike. SESSION
Michael Rosen: Incredible Adventures in Stories and Poems
The Times and Sunday Times Forum
£7.50 per pupil. Years 3-4
Michael Rosen is one of the nation’s best-loved children’s writers and performers whose contemporary classics such as We’re Going on a Bear Hunt and Jelly Boots, Smelly Boots have delighted children for generations. 50 years since his first book, join the former Children’s Laureate in celebrating his new animal adventure story along with some poetry, and of course some humour.
Laura Ellen Anderson: Marnie Midnight
The Hive
£7.50 per pupil. Years 3-4
Wildsmith Storymakers with Liz Flanagan
Regency Suite, Queens Hotel
£8.50 per pupil. Years 3-4
Author Liz Flanagan takes you on a story adventure with her enchanting Wildsmith series, inspired by her experience fostering cats and her passion for wilderness. Fire up your imagination with fun exercises and have a go at crafting a story about your very own experiences – perhaps with a sprinkling of magic!
The students loved meeting the authors and seeing just how possible it is for someone to become a writer.
Teacher
Meet Marnie Midnight and her minibeast friends in their fun-filled homeland of Miniopolis with author and illustrator Laura Ellen Anderson. Discover how Laura takes inspiration from the real world and create your own weird and wonderful minibeast character in this enchanting event.
SESSION TIMES BOOKING CODE 11.45am – 12.45pm LS43
£7.99
Learn how to craft your own comic books and bring characters to life under the guidance of Sheena Dempsey, creator of Pablo and Splash. Unleash your creativity and write and draw your own fantastic comic adventures.
SESSION TIMES BOOKING CODE 1.30pm – 2.30pm LS54
£8.99
Maz Evans:
Oh What a Knight!
The Hive
£7.50 per pupil. Years 5-6
Embark on a madcap journey with author Maz Evans, from the Mayan Underworld, through Ancient Egypt and all the way to Camelot to find Excalibur and save the world. Join in the fun and games and discover ancient myths and Arthurian legend in this hilarious, energetic show. Fire up your imagination and find the fun in reading.
SESSION TIMES BOOKING CODE
10.30 – 11.30am LS16
£7.99
Maddie Moate: A Very Curious Christmas
The Times and Sunday Times Forum
£7.50 per pupil. Years 3-4
Curious about why crackers pop, fairy lights glow, or how reindeer communicate? Join CBBC and YouTube presenter Maddie Moate for an interactive talk filled with demos and quirky Christmas facts. Maddie also explores how different people around the world celebrate the Christmas period, and the curious history behind festive traditions.
SESSION TIMES BOOKING CODE 11am – 12pm LS09
£8.99
Join CBBC and YouTube presenter Maddie Moate for an interactive talk filled with demos and quirky Christmas facts.
Maddie Moate: A Very Curious Christmas
Matt Goodfellow: The Final Year
Garden Theatre
£7.50 per pupil. Year 6
How can we use poetry and storytelling to understand the world we all share?
Find out with inspirational poet Matt Goodfellow. Matt performs extracts from his powerful verse novel The Final Year, and demonstrates what it is to write, to perform and to be proud of your own voice.
SESSION TIMES BOOKING CODE 12 – 1pm LS26
The Final Year
£8.99
Create a Baddie with Maz Evans
Regency Suite, Queens Hotel
£8.50 per pupil. Years 5-6
Conjure up a story with Maz Evans, author of the Who Let the Gods Out series. In this fun, creative writing workshop, you will create your own mythological baddie inspired by Maz’s hilarious ancient Egyptian adventure, Oh, Mummy Mia!
SESSION TIMES BOOKING CODE 1.30 – 2.30pm LS19
£7.99
RT=RP Live with Atinuke and Emily Haworth-Booth
The Hive
£7.50 per pupil. Years 3-4
A fun interactive opportunity to meet authors Atinuke and Emily Haworth-Booth, hear about their books and for pupils to present their prepared writing inspired by Too Small Tọ lá Gets Tough and The King Who Banned the Dark Whether you were on our RT=RP programme or not, this is a great springboard for boosting reading for pleasure in your school.
SESSION TIMES BOOKING CODE 12.30 – 1.30pm LS20
Too Small Tola Gets Tough
£6.99
The King Who Banned the Dark £7.99
It is essential that your class are very familiar with at least one of the books before attending the event. After booking, one of our team will be in touch to set up the pupil participation element with you.
Zooming the Zoo with John Dougherty
Regency Suite, Queens Hotel
£8.50 per pupil. Years 3-4
Enter the wonderful world of poetry with award-winning writer and poet John Dougherty. In this fun-filled and inspiring workshop, hear John perform some poems from his exciting new collection Zooming the Zoo and learn how to write all kinds of verse – funny, sad, serious, and silly – inspired by your own experiences.
SESSION TIMES
10 – 11am
£8.99
Mega Robo Bros comics with Neill Cameron
Regency Suite, Queens Hotel
£8.50 per pupil. Years 5-6
Calling all budding graphic novelists! Sharpen your pencils and get ready to create your very own characters and comics with Neill Cameron, cartoonist for The Phoenix comic, and creator of the Mega Robo Bros
SESSION TIMES
1.30 – 2.30pm
£9.99
Hannah Gold: Turtle Moon
Garden Theatre
£7.50 per pupil. Years 4-5
Journey to the jungle on a brand-new, turtle-y fun adventure with Hannah Gold, author of the Waterstones and Blue Peter Children’s Book Prize winner The Last Bear. Discover terrific turtle facts, be entranced by the Costa Rican rainforest, and test your knowledge in a wildlife quiz. Plus, learn how you can be a planet superhero too.
SESSION TIMES
Turtle Moon £14.99
The Last Bear £7.99
Joseph Elliott: Nora and the Map of Mayhem
The Hive
£7.50 per pupil. Years 3-4
Author Joseph Elliott , known for CBeebies’ Swashbuckle, and illustrator Nici Gregory, present their hilarious new comedy series with monsters, mischief, and mayhem. Learn about Joseph’s path from acting and scriptwriting to becoming an author and his top creative writing tips. Join in with some monstermaking activities and a draw along to craft your own characters.
SESSION TIMES
– 11.30am
£7.99
Katherine Rundell: Impossible Creatures
The Times and Sunday Times Forum
£7.50 per pupil. Years 5-6
Join master storyteller Katherine Rundell on an enchanting journey to a realm beyond imagination with her new fantasy series, Impossible Creatures. Embark on an urgent quest across a magical land where mythical creatures live and discover what’s jeopardising their survival before it’s too late. An epic adventure awaits!
SESSION TIMES BOOKING CODE 11am – 12pm LS04
£8.99
Writing Magical Creatures with Siobhan McDermott
Regency Suite, Queens Hotel
£8.50 per pupil. Years 5-6
Dive into a magical underwater world with Siobhan McDermott , author of Paper Dragons: The Fight for the Hidden Realm! Siobhan introduces herself and her book, revealing the Chinese legends that inspired her writing. You then have the chance to create your own magical creatures and fantastical settings.
Hiba Noor Khan: Safiyyah’s War
The Hive
£7.50 per pupil. Years 5-6
Experience an immersive spy event with Carnegie shortlisted author Hiba Noor Khan. Safiyyah’s tale takes us to the Grand Mosque of Paris during World War II, a sanctuary for persecuted Jews. Explore Hiba’s journey to becoming a writer, the inspiration behind the book and join in with an interactive session on spying and resistance work.
Christopher
Edge: Black Hole Cinema Club
Garden Theatre
£7.50 per pupil. Years 5-6
Hold onto your popcorn and plunge into a movie marathon. Can you save the day before the credits roll? Encounter prehistoric monsters, lost cities, and super spies with author and director Christopher Edge. Write your own thrilling adventures and find out if you have what it takes to be the hero of your own film.
SESSION TIMES
A vivid tale of people finding courage, connection and empathy for each other
The Sunday Times review of Safiyyah’s War
Jim Smith:
How
to Be a Genius Kid
Garden Theatre
£7.50 per pupil. Year 3
See page 7 for full event details.
SESSION TIMES BOOKING CODE 12 – 1pm LS36
£7.99
Onjali Rauf: The Letter with the Golden Stamp
Garden Theatre
£7.50 per pupil. Years 5-6
In Swansea, lives a small girl with a big secret. Uncover a new touching tale from Onjali Q. Rauf author of The Boy at the Back of the Class about a ten-year-old carer, her vast stamp collection and a mission to find the best medical care for her mother. Drawing from personal experience, Onjali explores themes of compassion and resilience, spotlighting young carers and their unsung champions.
SESSION TIMES BOOKING CODE 10.15 – 11.15am LS11
£7.99
Ellen Anderson: Marnie Midnight
Wildsmith Storymakers with Liz Flanagan
Storymakers with Liz Flanagan
Making with Sheena Dempsey Meet the Author
Neill Cameron
Author Writing Magical Creatures with Siobhan McDermott
the Author
Onyeka and the Heroes of the Dawn
Evans: Oh What a Knight!
Maddie Moate: A Very Curious Christmas
Live with Atinuke and Emily Haworth-Booth
Joseph Elliott: Nora and the Map of Mayhem
the Author
Katherine Rundell: Impossible Creatures Meet the Author
Hannah Gold: Turtle Moon Meet the Author Zooming the Zoo with John Dougherty Meet the Author
Hiba Noor Khan: Safiyyah’s War Meet the Author
Christopher Edge: Black Hole Cinema Club Meet the Author
Onjali Rauf: The Letter with the Golden Stamp
the Author Matt Goodfellow: The Final Year Meet the Author
Sharna Jackson
Author
Jim Smith: How to Be a Genius Kid
Key Stage 3 Years 7–9
Creating Fantasy Worlds
Garden Theatre
£7.50 per student. Years 7-9
Take a journey into the imagination with authors Liz Hyder, Philip Reeve and Piers Torday, exploring the art of world building in their latest books. From a parallel universe to 1000 years into the future and an empire of vampires and werewolves, learn their techniques for shaping believable landscapes, cultures, and creatures to set their gripping adventures.
SESSION TIMES
10 – 11am
The Twelve £12.99
Mortal Engines: Thunder City £8.99
Midnight Treasure £14.99
Poetry as Rebel Writing with Matt Goodfellow
Regency Suite, Queens Hotel
£8.50 per student. Year 8
Be inspired by Matt Goodfellow ’s new collection Tomorrow We Begin, filled with poems about everything from navigating your first day of secondary school to finding your first love. Discover why Matt believes poetry is ‘rebel writing’ and find out how to write in your voice, about your life.
SESSION
Tomorrow We Begin £7.99
Writing Suspense with Gabriel Dylan
Regency Suite, Queens Hotel
£8.50 per student. Year 7
In this creative writing workshop, author Gabriel Dylan talks about his hair-raising Shiver Point series and teaches you his top five tips and tricks for writing scary stories as he leads you in a writing activity and shares how to make the hairs on the back of your reader’s neck stand-up.
SESSION TIMES BOOKING CODE 11.30am – 12.30pm LS42
Shiver Point £8.99
Whiteout £7.99
Matt Goodfellow: The Final Year
The Garden Theatre
£7.50 per student. Year 7
How can we use poetry and storytelling to understand the world we all share? Find out with inspirational poet Matt Goodfellow. Matt performs extracts from his powerful verse novel The Final Year, and demonstrates what it is to write, to perform and to be proud of your own voice.
SESSION TIMES BOOKING CODE 12 – 1pm LS26
The Final Year £8.99
Katherine Rundell: Impossible Creatures
The Times and Sunday Times Forum
£7.50 per student. Year 7
Join master storyteller Katherine Rundell on an enchanting journey to a realm beyond imagination with her new fantasy series, Impossible Creatures. Embark on an urgent quest across a magical land where mythical creatures live and discover what’s jeopardising their survival before it’s too late. An epic adventure awaits!
SESSION TIMES BOOKING CODE 11am – 12pm LS04
£8.99
A highlight of the school year for us!
Teacher
Sarah Crossan: Where the Heart Should Be
Garden Theatre
£7.50 per student. Years 8-9
Award-winning poet and Young Adult writer Sarah Crossan captivates audiences by bringing poetry to life. Discover her passion for verse novels and how to carve out more time for reading.
Sarah’s new novel Where the Heart Should Be is a poignant love story set during the Irish famine. Explore how past narratives remain relevant in today’s world. SESSION
Pick Up Your Pen with Sarah Crossan
Regency Suite, Queens Hotel
£8.50 per student. Years 8-9
How do stories start? Where can we find them? And how do we know whether what we’ve written is good enough?
Sarah Crossan, award-winning author leads you in a series of poetry and prose exercises designed to build confidence and get your pen moving.
SESSION TIMES BOOKING CODE
1 – 2pm LS57
Chills and Thrills
The Times and Sunday Times Forum
£7.50 per student. Years 7-9
How do you write a tense thriller that keeps readers on the edge of their seats?
Find out in this action-packed thriller writing event with authors Simon Fox, Cynthia Murphy and Melinda Salisbury hosted by Sharna Jackson. Hear about their explosive new adventures and how they mastered the art of suspense, from mysterious clues to tricky situations and difficult choices.
SESSION TIMES BOOKING CODE 11am – 12pm LS27
Running out of Time £7.99
Signed Sealed Dead £8.99
AdelAide Just Wants To Help £7.99
The Nine Night Mystery £7.99
Create a Character with Elen Caldecott
Regency Suite, Queens Hotel
£8.50 per student. Years 7-9
Create an authentic, three-dimensional character inspired by images and photographs in this playful and engaging workshop with author Elen Caldecott . Develop your creative thinking and practical writing skills using a growth mindset in a session where experimentation and self-expression are encouraged.
SESSION TIMES BOOKING CODE 10 – 11am LS53
£7.99
RT=RP Live with Elen Caldecott and Alex Wheatle
The Hive
£7.50 per student. Years 7-9
Bringing RT=RP book talk to life with authors Elen Caldecott and Alex Wheatle in this interactive author event chaired by YA author Ashley Hickson-Lovence. Hear them talk about their books, The Blackthorn Branch and Cane Warriors, what it’s like to be an author, the inspiration behind their stories, their creative process and ask them your questions. Whether you were on our RT=RP programme or not, this is a great springboard for boosting reading for pleasure in your school.
It is essential that your class are very familiar with at least one of the books before attending the event.
SESSION TIMES BOOKING CODE 12 – 1pm LS29
The Blackthorn Branch £7.99 Cane Warriors £7.99
Wild East £8.99
Key Stage 3 Day Planner
Key Stage 4 Years 10–11
Sarah Crossan:
Where the Heart
Should Be
Garden Theatre
£7.50 per student. Year 10
Award-winning poet and Young Adult writer Sarah Crossan captivates audiences by bringing poetry to life. Discover her passion for verse novels and how to carve out more time for reading. Sarah’s new novel Where the Heart Should Be is a poignant love story set during the Irish famine. Explore how past narratives remain relevant in today’s world.
Writing for Change
£7.50 per student. Years 10-11
YA Book Prize winning author and screenwriter Danielle Jawando and poet and author Louisa Reid talk with author Nathanael Lessore about shining a light on important subjects in young adult fiction, writing as a vehicle for change and the joys and challenges that often come with this.
How to Write an Opinion Piece
Regency Suite, Queens Hotel
£8.50 per student. Years 10-11
How do you express an opinion while sounding informed? How do you persuade your reader to see the world from your point of view? Join The Times columnist James Marriott and learn how to write an opinion article. SESSION TIMES
11.45am – 12.45pm LS08
Finding Your Voice with Danielle Jawando
Regency Suite, Queens Hotel
£8.50 per student. Years 10-11
Learn how to develop and craft your authentic voice guided by YA Book Prize-winning author Danielle Jawando in this dynamic workshop inspired by her latest novel If My Words Had Wings. Explore themes of self-discovery and the power of words, with lots of interaction and expert tips guided by a seasoned pro-writer.
1.30 – 2.30pm
Let your students know about this dynamic FREE space for young people and look out for the Zine in September.
Complete Your Booking Here
Booking opens at 8am on Wednesday 19 June
Key Stage 5 Years
12–13
Writing Wild, Writing
Free with Ashley Hickson-Lovence
VOICEBOX
£7.50 per student. Years 12-13
Join acclaimed author Ashley HicksonLovence for a dynamic creative writing workshop inspired by his YA verse-novel, Wild East. Discover techniques to craft stories, poems, or song lyrics fearlessly. Unlock fresh approaches to enrich your creativity and create boundary-breaking work that resonates long after the final words. Don’t miss this opportunity to ignite your imagination and leave a lasting impact on your writing.
SESSION TIMES BOOKING CODE 10 – 11am LS15
£8.99
David Nicholls
VOICEBOX
£7.50 per student. Years 12-13
Meet David Nicholls as he talks about his career and answers your questions, two decades after the publication of his debut novel Starter for Ten and fifteen years since One Day. Nicholls remains a literary luminary, captivating readers with his humour and heartrending storytelling. His sixth novel, You Are Here, is published this year, and his screenwriting prowess has earned him acclaim and awards.
SESSION TIMES BOOKING CODE 11.45am – 12.45pm LS07
£9.99
The Write Job
VOICEBOX
£7.50 per student. Years 12-13
Is writing the right job for you? Ask our industry panel. Award-winning content and marketing director Clarissa Pabi is joined by writer and publisher Abiola Bello, author and content creator Jack Edwards, and Senior Commissioning Editor at Harper Fire, Megan Reid, to talk about their careers, how to develop your own writing and the opportunities they see for young people in the publishing industry and beyond.
SESSION TIMES BOOKING CODE
1.30 – 2.30pm LS06
£9.99
VOICEBOX explores big ideas, amplifies young voices and creates change. From short talks, workshops, music and more, drop in to VOICEBOX.
Let your students know about this dynamic FREE space for young people and look out for the Zine in September.
The Huddle
Visit The Huddle for a host of free events celebrating writing, from close to home and around the globe. Free programme announced on Monday 9 September
Supported by Benefact Group
Complete Your Booking Here
Booking opens at 8am on Wednesday 19 June
SEND Providers
The Great Big Dinosaur Show
Storyshack
£8.50 per pupil
Which dinosaur had teeth as big as a banana? Which dinosaur weighed the same as 10,000 cats? And why is a chicken in this show? Join poet Simon Mole and musician Gecko for a morning of poems, raps and songs about your favourite prehistoric protagonists (and some you haven’t heard of yet!). Get your groove on to some Jurassic classics.
There are plenty of free activities to discover on site
Storytelling Sessions
Join us in Story Shack for wild and wonderful folk and fairy tales from around the world.
See page 25 for full details on registering your interest for a session
We’re committed to providing the best service possible for schools and pupils with access requirements including:
✓ Access to our Learning and Participation team for support before and during your visit
✓ Wheelchair accessible venues on site including Cheltenham Town Hall
✓ A social story of our Literature Festival site sent to schools/HE
✓ SEND specific events for special educational needs
Meet the Author
Bring your children or young people to our Waterstones Bookshops after the events to meet the author and have your books signed.
See page 2 for full details on all our free activities
Complete Your Booking Here
Booking opens at 8am on Wednesday 19 June
FAQS How to Book
Complete your booking using the forms linked below:
Booking opens at 8am on Wednesday 19 June
From 8am you can access the booking forms, where you can select your preferred choices.
Prices
Events: £7.50 per pupil
Workshops: £8.50 + the cost of two copies of the author’s book per class
Tickets for teachers and accompanying adults are free of charge according to the ratio of staff: pupil for your key stage.
Free Storytelling Session:
Available when booking an event or workshop. Spaces are limited. Please register your interest on the booking form and we will be in touch if we can accomodate you.
A £5 booking fee for Schools and £3 for Home Educators will be added to the total cost of your order.
Reception and KS1
What happens next?
1. We will review your booking form and be in touch to discuss alternative options if any of your choices are not available. Please allow five working days.
2. You will receive a formal booking confirmation via email. Due to demand please allow up to five working days for your booking confirmation.
3. Please notify us of changes to your numbers because of fluctuations in class size by Friday 6 September and we will do our best to accommodate them.
4. Your school finance office will receive an invoice after Monday 9 September. It is important that this invoice is paid before you attend the Festival.
5. We will be back in touch in September with your ticket document and further information about the facilities on site.
What is the capacity of the venue?
Discover more events at the Festival Full programme announcement
Wednesday 14 August
The Times and Sunday Times Forum – 1200 Garden Theatre – 500
The Hive – 200 Regency Suite, Queens Hotel – 72 Story Shack – 80 VOICEBOX – 80
With thanks to the Benefact Group for supporting with bus fees for some schools in attendance.
Is the event suitable for my students?
We work with publishers to recommend key stage and age suitability, however teachers are advised to review featured books before booking, to determine suitability for their class especially around sensitive themes.
What
to bring to the events?
All children should bring along notebooks and pencils to join in with the draw-alongs and other interactive activities.
Is there a lunch space?
There is a covered picnic area in the Festival Village available on a drop-in basis.
How do we get to the Festival?
The Festival is held in Montpellier Gardens near Cheltenham Town Centre.
Full details about arriving, parking, getting to venues and more, can be found on our Visit Planning page.
Where can I find advice for preparing a risk assessment?
All venues and events are carefully risk assessed. For advice on preparing your own risk assessment for your visit, and information about our cancellation policy, visit our website.
How do we get in touch?
Contact a member of the Learning and Participation team.
Reading Teachers = Reading Pupils
Cheltenham Festivals is on a mission
to inspire the next generation of readers
If you’re a KS2 or KS3 teacher looking to boost reading for pleasure in your school, then look no further than Reading Teachers = Reading Pupils
Join us for the launch of this year’s programme and learn about the pedagogy behind the project on Monday 7 October 6–7.30pm at Queens Hotel, Cheltenham.
Find out how to get involved at cheltenhamfestivals.com/rtrp
and look out for more details in an enews or email education@cheltenhamfestivals.org for more information.
With thanks to our supporters
Thank you to our Festival Partners and Supporters
Jennifer Hayward
Jennifer Hayward
With thanks to the following children’s book publishers for their support:
Andersen Press
Barrington Stoke
Bloomsbury
Bonnier
Chicken House
David Fickling Books
Faber and Faber
Farshore
Guppy Books
Hachette
HarperCollins
MacMillan
Nosy Crow
Otter-Barry Books
Oxford University Press
Penguin Random House
Pushkin Press
Quarto
Simon and Schuster
UCLan
Walker Books
And Sceptre adults’ book publisher
Discover the full programme Announced on Wednesday 14 August
