Poet Simon Lamb is set to work with youngsters at St Andrew’s Academy as part of the Scottish Book Trust Live Literature School Residencies Programme.
Mr Lamb is one of ten authors engaged in this initiative, which brings professionally acclaimed writers into educational settings to spur a passion for reading and writing.
Mr Lamb's residency at St Andrew’s Academy will stretch over 14 sessions during the 2024-25 school year, concluding by May 2025.
Having prior experience as a primary school teacher, Mr Lamb will utilise his skills to connect with children in a dynamic and enriching way.
The project, subtitled "Skilling Mountains", will draw from Lamb's love of Scotland's highlands, using the hills and munros to inspire poetry writing.
The Live Literature School Residencies Programme, currently in its ninth year, is sponsored by the Walter Scott Giving Group. It involves a series of fully-funded author workshops aimed at encouraging pupils to enjoy and engage with literature.
Each school participating in the programme will receive a grant of £500 for additional resources required for the project.
This initiative, run by the Scottish Book Trust, invites nationwide schools to apply for the opportunity of introducing pupils to professional authors.
The idea is to stimulate an enduring love of reading and writing, while giving creative professionals an exciting chance to foster a meaningful relationship with local schools. Schools across Scotland applied for the programme, with St Andrew’s Academy being one of the selected ten.
Mr Lamb said: "The great outdoors and the medium of poetry have long breathed each other’s air, and I simply can’t wait to explore the mountains of our landscape and our minds with the students and staff of St Andrew’s Academy. Together, we’ll scale contours of creativity, play with language, and conjure poems."
Sylwia Grabowska-Szumska, school librarian at St Andrew’s Academy, said: "We are very excited to start our Skilling Mountains project with Simon Lamb. We are looking forward to bringing poetry as a tool to help our pupils improve their literacy skills and develop confidence. We can’t wait for our outdoor trip to find poetry in outside world."
Marc Lambert, chief executive of Scottish Book Trust, added: "Well done to the ten schools across Scotland that have been selected for the Live Literature School Residencies Programme. It’s an incredibly valuable programme as it allows authors to build relationships with a school over time, and to inspire pupils to develop a love of writing and creative expression.
"These creative projects also offer the chance to engage with the local community, while promoting reading and writing cultures. We are grateful to our funders the Walter Scott Giving Group for making this programme available to all schools."
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