Oxfordshire school welcomes author and Everest climber

Matt Dickinson, an adventurer, and author of The Everest Files, will be working with pupils at Faringdon Community College during this academic year.

The former BBC producer and filmmaker was welcomed by the school during a launch event on Wednesday, September 25.

He will help pupils with areas of the curriculum, support them to develop their life skills, and improve literacy and reading engagement.

Matt Dickinson speaks to pupils at Faringdon Community College (Image: Faringdon Community College) Mr Dickinson has been on a tour of schools in the UK and abroad, sharing his climbing experiences and memories on Everest.

He said: "This is a great opportunity to help the school focus on writing confidence.

"During my visits, we will be doing a range of exciting creative writing projects with years 7, 8, and 9.

"We will also be focusing on the benefits of reading for pleasure, working in tandem with the excellent library team and the staff devoted to literacy improvement.

"From what I saw last time, reading for pleasure and writing with confidence is what the school is all about."

The school's headteacher, Jonathan Dennett, said: "We are delighted that Matt Dickinson is joining us at Faringdon Community College to provide fantastic opportunities to our students.

"Reading and creativity are a key part of our students’ access to the curriculum, enjoyment, and enrichment.

"Working alongside a professional writer will boost students’ confidence alongside their mental health and wellbeing.

Matt Dickinson speaks to pupils at Faringdon Community College (Image: Faringdon Community College) “Enrichment and extra-curricular activities are a real strength of Faringdon Community College, and we are excited about all that the project will bring to the students and the wider life of our school.”

Mr Dickinson's role will include supporting the school's Afghan students and those participating in the Duke of Edinburgh scheme.

The best pieces of writing produced by the pupils throughout the year will be published in a book, to be presented at an awards night in July.

The pupils are looking forward to the opportunity, with one saying he felt "great about it,” while another said he was "going to ace it".

Charlotte Kitching, assistant headteacher and inclusion champion, added: "This is an exciting project and one which will not only support the literacy and numeracy skills of our students but will also develop their confidence and self-esteem.

"Matt is an inspiring individual, who the children will learn a lot from. We believe in providing our students with a range of exciting and engaging learning opportunities and Matt's work with us is a great example of this.”