Beverley Naidoo

On Thursday 18th October 2008 the award winning author visited the school to work with a variety of English groups. Beverley’s books are largely about apartheid in South Africa where she was born and brought up, so we specifically invited her because the issues she deals with would challenge and broaden the perspective of our pupils who live in a small rural community.

She had a very busy day based in the School Library and Resources Centre. Firstly talking to a Year 7 group who had been reading her collection of short stories ‘Out of Bounds’. Following this she talked to a Year 13 group about creative writing. Through part of the lunch hour she made herself available to sign the books which pupils had purchased that day. After lunch she talked to a Year 10 group who had been reading her book about Nigerian refugees for their coursework. The day was finished off with a question and answer session for the Reading Club. Comments made by students include: ‘She opened my eyes to a different world’, ‘It was amazing how she coped with living under apartheid’, and ‘She read the text so well it came to life.’

Beverley talks to the class	Beverley talks to a Sixth Form group	Signing Students books
Talking to the class	Signing Students books	Talking to a class