The IWLF Schools’ Programme has long been an imperative part of the Isle of Wight Literary Festival alongside its main programme. Reading and literacy is at the heart of what the festival is about; to create opportunities for our young island minds to access literary talent and be inspired. 

 

Year on year, the festival invites a carefully curated and diverse selection of authors covering age ranges of primary and secondary school age to deliver either assemblies, workshops or interactive sessions. Island schools host those authors or participate as a visitor to a ‘hub’ school on the Island. 

 

We are expanding our programme for 2024 in consultation with all the schools on the island. This year is set to be the largest programme we have ever held, with twenty plus primary schools and all the secondary schools on the Island taking part. 

 

Our Schools Patron, award-winning author of The King’s Pants and The Queen’s Knickers Nicholas Allan, has designed a fantastic postcard for this year’s festival with the motto ‘Literature can change your life’, which will also be a giveaway to all the children attending the programme. 

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For 2024, we have welcomed a fresh logo and a new team of volunteers to head up the programme including former High Sheriff Dawn Haig-Thomas. Dawn spearheaded a hugely successful school readers campaign during her time in office, which continues today. 

 

Dawn said on joining the schools’ team, "The IWLF Schools' Programme brings leading authors into the Island's schools to develop a love of reading and storytelling in our young.  The passion the authors have for books is nothing short of contagious!  It takes just one book to ignite a passion for literature, enabling children to enter endless new worlds and become enlightened members of their society."

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There is no charge to schools. The entire IWLF Schools’ Programme is generously funded by private benefactors and charitable donations who share the belief that a life long love of reading is one of the greatest gifts you can give a child. We all believe every childhood should be exposed to all the wonderful stories told and yet to come.   

 

The team’s aspiration for the future is to reach all children on the island to experience the inspiration of an author-delivered story or workshop.  

 

If you wish to support or have any enquiries, please contact 

schools@isleofwightliteraryfestival.com 

 

Please join us and share our journey on social media.