Bard School For World Book Week

Coaching the storytellers of the future as part of World Book Day celebrations

Last week I was running Bard Workshops as part of 2025’s World Book Day celebrations and what a week I had. So much fun, a little chaotic but 100% rewarding to see over three hundred children starting to create their own stories to tell.

I kicked off the week at Portsmouth Grammar School, teaching workshops for ages 5 to 10: Mini Bards to Bard Level 2. Around 150 pupils joyously engaged in storytelling, oracy and imagination, all with new storytelling skills and a story to tell.

Next up was years 7 & 8 at The Petersfield School, where pupils aged 11 - 13 took part in workshops that explored the legends of Hampshire and learnt how to create their own legends to tell.

Finally, I ended the week at Hambledon Primary school with Mini Bard workshops for YrR-2, Bard Level 1 for Yr3 &4 and another legendary workshop for Bard Level 2 and Yr5 & 6.

Without fail every group got stuck in, created their own stories, chatted about the ones I had told them and had some really great questions about the oral storytelling tradition.

As you can see from the photos, my drum came with me to tell some of the stories and on my drum is Ratatoskr the squirrel from the Norse myths along with a circle of red feathers around the outside. This wonderful drum was handmade for me by Lewis, a friend of mine, and you can find more of his work here.

Ratatoskr is a mythical squirrel that runs up and down the world tree in the Norse myths taking messages from the dragon Nidhog who nibbles the roots of the tree, to the eagle who sits proudly in the very top. He is a gossip, mischief maker and first class storyteller, which is why he comes with me to help tell some of my stories.

The feathers around the outside represent the bards of old. In Ireland the Fili, an ancient bardic order, trained for 12 years to become storytellers. In doing so they learnt 300 different rhythms, 250 primary stories and 150 secondary stories. Once they had completed their training they could hold a staff and wear a full-length cloak of red feathers.

I have been telling stories for just over ten years and I hold around 250 stories and snippets of lore, possibly more. I’m getting there and I am constantly in awe of those who have walked this path before me.

The most amazing part of these workshops is watching pupils create their own myths and legends. Even those who find it difficult to start a story or construct sentences in the way the formal education system would like them to, get stuck in straight away with the business of telling. We are storytelling animals, we understand the assignment and we love it! The joy in the room is palpable.

If you’re in a school in the south of England and would like to know more about my bard workshops and how my Bard School can help coach your pupils in oracy, literacy, imagination and performance skills, please get in touch.