I’ve just finished a short story writing project at Allerton High School in Leeds. I started working with a dozen or so Year 10 students in the summer term and the project ended, now they‘re in Year 11, just last week. It was fabulous to see, on my final visit, the finished anthology of short stories and witness how each of them had developed and grown in confidence as writers over the five months we worked together.

At the heart of the collection is the demolition and rebuilding of the new school which was well under way when we started. In the early workshops we talked about this theme, but also looked at issues of plotting, character and setting. Our first sessions were in the old library of the school and our final two took place in the sparkling new building.

All the fictional characters in the stories had some connection to Allerton High, either as pupils or staff, past and present, and it was fascinating how differently each young writer tackled their short story. Some are witty or laugh out loud, others touching and full of feeling.

It was a real privilege to work with these young writers, brilliantly supported by librarian Anne Walker and Head of English, Martin Clark.

The anthology ‘A Change of Seasons’ is available from the school, price £2.50.