One of the country’s most treasured children’s authors gave an assembly to a school earlier this month.

Warwick Bridge Primary School in Carlisle was part of a lucky few schools that was visited 'virtually' by Jacqueline Wilson.

Perhaps best known for creating The Story of Tracy Beaker which became a hit TV show, Girls in Love and Lola Rose, the 78-year-old writer gave a talk on her life, how she got into writing, and answered questions posed by Key Stage 2 pupils.

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Mark Ashton, headteacher at Warwick Bridge Primary School, said the assembly on Friday, November 15, coincided with the release of her new book – Think Again – a Sunday Times bestseller about finding friendship and finding yourself.

The children asked her:

  • If she wasn't a writer, what would she be? (Own a bookshop)
  • If she were one of her characters, who would she choose to be? (Hetty Feather)
  • What books does she read herself? (Everything)

Mr Ashton said: “It was really good because it encouraged children to read more, from adult to children's fiction.

“She talked about her working day.

“She starts it in bed with a laptop, does an hour of work, then has breakfast.

“She only works for two hours a day.”

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Schools across the UK applied and only a select few were granted the chance to hold such an assembly.

Mr Ashton added: “Our English leader saw this opportunity and applied online, and we were quite fortunate.

“I was very pleased to be part of it because it gave us all a unique opportunity to see, in person, a real-life author who has written some of the most influential books for young children over the years.”