Students at Duke of Lancaster in Fakenham were treated to a memorable visit from bestselling children’s author, Sam Copeland, as part of the school’s ongoing commitment to developing a love of reading and writing.
Sam, whose books include the hugely popular Charlie Changes into a Chicken series, Greta and the Ghost Hunters and Uma and the Answer to Absolutely Everything, spoke to children about his journey to becoming an author, where he finds inspiration and the writing process behind his stories. He also answered pupils’ thoughtful questions about reading, writing and life as an author.
Sam said: “Meeting children who love my characters as much as I do is an honor and one of the best parts of being an author. It was such a special day, and a joy to see the students’ curiosity while answering their questions about reading and what it means to be an author.”
Duke of Lancaster, part of Eastern Education Group, is a specialist school for children aged 5–16 with communication and interaction needs.
Penelope Taylor-Jones, Duke of Lancaster’s English Lead, said: “Visits like this are so important because they help our children see that books don’t just appear on shelves – they are created by real people with imagination, perseverance and a love of storytelling. Sam completely captured the children’s attention, and it was wonderful to see their curiosity and confidence grow as they asked questions and talked about books. We hope experiences like this inspire them to see themselves as readers, writers and storytellers too.”
The day also saw a visit from the team at Theatre Royal who visited to the school to host a ‘Spy School’ workshop, in which students learned key skills such as communication and teamwork through a top-secret spy mission. A volunteer from The Matthew Project also visited to raise awareness about the harmful effects of drugs and alcohol.
