GCSE English Masterclass with Jon Mayhew

Pupils in Y10 and Y11 were treated to a masterclass in preparing for their GCSE English masterclass creative writing exam this week. Jon Mayhew is the author of the inspiring and practical book 'Storycraft: How to teach narrative writing' , a resource written to support secondary school teachers in developing their pupils' creative writing.

The workshop was filled with activities and expert guidance relating to idea generation, providing off-the-peg writing prompts that students can use when faced with a creative writing exam. The workshop broke down the simple components that must be in place for a narrative to work including the crafting of character, setting, shape and structure. Jon also spent time giving helpful advice dedicated to the process of editing, in which he provided activities designed to help students diagnose and improve misfiring narratives. The pupils gained a great deal from his invaluable tips for GCSE exam preparation.

Jon is an accomplished author within his own right. Jon Mayhew is the author of the multi-award winning Mortlock and Monster Odyssey series published by Bloomsbury. His books have won the Warwick, Sefton, Wirral, Leeds and Calderdale Prizes as well as being shortlisted for the Waterstones Children’s Book of the Year. Our thanks to the Wilton Trust for financing the event and to Mrs Doran for organising it. Jon will return to Liverpool College in three weeks to continue to work with out Y10 and Y11 pupils.

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