A VIP guest helped students at a West Yorkshire specialist school celebrate the literary achievements of students recently.
Broadwood School in Halifax supports children and young people with special educational needs and the work of six of its students has been selected for publication in a poetry anthology called Young Writers.
This fantastic achievement was marked by a visit from Calder Valley MP, Craig Whittaker, who spent time with the students and presented them with a trophy and certificate each.
The young people had written poems linked to Remembrance Day which were entered into a national competition run by Young Writers. The work of six of the students – from Years 8, 9, 10 and 11 – was selected for publication.
Deputy Headteacher Alison Mellor said: “Our school supports children with social, emotional and mental health difficulties and autism and for many, writing and literacy can be a struggle.
“Often when children come to our school they have very little self-belief and think they can’t do certain things, or will ever achieve anything academically. Our aim is always to show them that’s simply not the case.
“Their work is wonderful and being selected for publication has not just boosted their confidence, it’s impacted everyone across the school. The other young people see what can be achieved. The boys whose work has been published rightly feel very proud and it has certainly had an impact on their learning. We are incredibly proud of them.”
During the MP’s visit, he was given a tour of the school by Head of the Student Council Zack, who shared his own positive experience of Broadwood and his time there.
Alison added: “The children really enjoyed Craig’s visit. They asked lots of very interesting questions – mainly about which famous people he knew! The children have been learning about democracy, and it was wonderful to hear them bring that knowledge into their conversation with Craig.”
