David Almond delivers PGCE talk

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Skellig author David Almond shares knowledge with PGCE students

Friday, 19 October, 2018

David Almond, author of famous children's novel Skellig and Professor of Creative Writing at Bath Spa University, recently delivered a talk to more than 300 of the University's PGCE students. The talk was part of a lecture led by Bath Spa University's Emily Asbury, Senior Lecturer in PGCE, and Deborah Nicholson, Senior Lecturer in Primary English.

David was invited to talk as an inspirational author who has a background in education. Both Deborah and David emphasised the importance of allowing children to enjoy writing without a sense of judgement. The PGCE students particularly enjoyed seeing David sharing his writing process - with the help of his trusty sketch books and pencils, he was able to demonstrate the stages from a 'messy' beginning to a beautifully bound, finished book.

Emily Asbury, Senior Lecturer in PGCE at Bath Spa said: "It was an honour to have David Almond speak at our English lecture, he spoke with passion and underpinned the ethos of our PGCE English strand. The event really enabled us to explore creative approaches to teaching and reflect on the importance of writing as a safe space for expression. We strive to foster a love of writing in both University students, and the children that they work with, and we're delighted with the positive feedback we've received."

After the lecture, students were invited to take part in activities planned and facilitated by the PGCE English team. Activities included sensory marking with shaving foam, chalk and cotton buds in paint, a listening tent with video material, and a display showcasing David's life and work with a selection of his books. David also spoke to the students one-to-one and signed copies of his books. Themes from the event will now be followed up in students' English seminars.