On Friday, 23 May, 42 of our pupils attended the Schools Programme at the Hay Festival in Hay-on-Wye — and what a day it was! From the moment we arrived, the atmosphere was buzzing with excitement, and our students threw themselves into every moment.

We were lucky enough to hear from three incredible speakers: Alastair Campbell, Caroline O’Donoghue, and Philippa Gregory. Each talk brought something unique — from Campbell’s passionate call for young people to engage in politics, to O’Donoghue’s gripping fantasy worlds, and Gregory’s powerful re-telling of history through the eyes of ordinary women.

But what really made the day special were the reactions from the students themselves. They threw themselves into the talks, participating fully by voting on social issues impacting them, offering ideas for characters in new worlds or asking questions with the microphone in front of hundreds of pupils from other schools. Many pupils described the day as ‘brilliant’ or ‘amazing.’ However, one pupil went as far as saying that, “not even my wedding day will compare!” Others described the experience as “inspiring,” “eye-opening,” and “completely brilliant.”

It’s safe to say the Hay Festival once again left a lasting impression. We’re incredibly proud of how engaged and enthusiastic our pupils were, and we can’t wait to return next year!