Just over two weeks ago, BGS launched an outreach project with Bedford Academy. Every Tuesday, a group of Years 7 and 8 students join us at BGS to enjoy a range of creative writing workshops led by Mrs Hoar (Challenge and Extend Co-ordinator) and some highly talented Sixth Form students from both schools. Holly Sanders (Lower Sixth), stated: “It’s amazing to see such young people come together and inspire each other to write such detailed and emotional pieces. It’s a process that is exciting to go back to every week to see what more they can write”.

Sophia Baker reiterated: “I was really impressed with the Years 7 and 8 flash fiction stories; they have a lot of potential and I am excited to help them develop their skills, so they can reach new heights with their writing”.

BGS Year 7 student, Fleur Doyle-Fisher, shared: “In Write Out this week we did some flash fiction. We were given the word ‘home’ and we had to write as many things as we could think of about ‘home’, then we had to pick ten of our words and write a short, moralistic story using our ten chosen words in the order that we wrote them. All of our stories were unique and exciting, with different themes, such as: the human brain, living in a dangerous place and a nice family! I really enjoy going to Write Out because it helps expand my writing knowledge and we get to interact with students from Bedford Academy in Years 7 and 8.

This is a wonderful collaborative opportunity for the two school to work together and is summarised perfectly by Forhana, a Sixth Form student at Bedford Academy: “For the past two weeks, I have been assisting a Creative Writing Scheme at Bedford Girls’ School. Alongside three other Sixth Form students, I have had the ability to plan, experience and enjoy what it would feel like to teach creative writing to a group of joyous and passionate children. This experience is ideal for those craving a stress-free and relaxing time to reflect on their future aspiration of becoming teachers. Overall, my experience has been nothing but sublime.”