Imagine a Story: a creative writing project for schools
Key Stage 2 pupils become published authors in our collaborative writing project
Primary school pupils have the opportunity to collaborate with brilliant children’s writers and illustrators from under-represented backgrounds in our Imagine a Story creative writing project.
Inspired by the game of consequences, Imagine a Story sees our guest author set a framework for an adventurous multi-part story. Each participating school then writes one part of the story in response to this framework, without knowing what comes before or after their section. Together, the chapters create a completely unique story, brought to life by our guest illustrator, that is professionally published, making all the children involved published authors.
At the beginning of the project, teachers are supported by a Continuing Professional Development (CPD) session and a robust teachers’ pack created in consultation with the Centre for Literacy in Primary Education (CLPE). The CPD is a key component of Imagine a Story, preparing you to bring the project to your classrooms and equipping you with practical tools and tips for writing creatively and collectively with their classes beyond the project.
Imagine a Story culminates with the participating classes invited to attend their ‘Book Launch’ here at the Southbank Centre, or at another culture centre in their local area. Every child receives a copy of the published book.
This project is designed to inspire and support children’s creativity and creative writing skills, help them to see themselves in the books they read and write, motivate them to continue to develop their writing and reading back in school, and help them to see themselves as real-life authors.
Take part
Applications for Imagine a Story 2023/24 have now closed. If you would like your school to get involved in Imagine a Story 2024/25, please get in touch.
Resources
About the programme
Why take part?
Imagine a Story supports children to develop their writing, reading, and imaginative skills, including these areas of the KS2 National Curriculum for English:
- developing understanding and enjoyment of reading and writing
- planning, drafting and evaluating their writing
- discussing words and phrases that capture the reader’s interest and imagination
- developing well-structured descriptions, explanations and narratives
- using language to develop understanding through imagining and exploring ideas.
The project also increase diverse representation in children’s literature and encourages young people to see themselves in their writing.
Imagine a Story encourages children’s awareness of social issues through storytelling, and it opens a pathway into the arts, encouraging children to see themselves as ‘real life’ authors.
What you receive
This project is free to all participating schools and is open to classes in Key Stage 2 (years three to six).
Schools are encouraged to invite multiple classes (up to 60 children in total) to collaborate in the project.
Here’s what you’ll receive in this year’s Imagine a Story project.
- In-person or online CPD training session with the Southbank Centre and Centre for Literacy in Primary Education.
- A teachers’ pack full of literacy and creative writing activities for the KS2 classroom.
- A copy of the published book for every student participating in the project.
- Live performance from project artists in your local area.
- Ongoing support from start to finish from the Southbank Centre Schools team and our Imagine a Story teacher network.
Project timeline
- Autumn term one: apply online for your school to take part in the project.*
- Autumn term two: all teachers are required to take part in the online professional development workshop with the author to introduce the story outline and workshop techniques for whole-class creative writing. Supporting resources will be provided.
- Spring term one: write your part of the story with your class (you’ll be assigned a part of the story at the beginning of the project).*
- Spring term two: submit your part of the story by the deadline.
- Summer term two: attend the live performance of your story here at the Southbank Centre or a venue in your local area, and receive your hard copies of the published book. Your children are ow published authors.
*Due to the high level of interest in this national project, we may not be able to accommodate individual schools’ requests to complete multiple parts, or have more than 60 children. Our Schools team may get in touch with you to discuss how your school can best participate.