Marvels and gems

Students from Claremont High School explore the British Library’s treasure

On Friday 23rd January 2026, a group of sixth-form students accompanied Dr Rigali from the English Department on a trip to the British Library in central London. There they participated in a writing workshop led by Royal Literary Fund Fellow Writer, Anna Wilson, author of over fifty books for children, including her popular series, Vlad the World’s Worst Vampire.

The students learnt how to develop the craft of both academic and creative writing, gaining valuable tips from the professional author.

‘We took part in a workshop focused on improving our essay-writing skills,’ explains Safaa Calloo in Year 13. ‘I learnt how to structure essays more effectively and develop clearer arguments.’ Fadel Farik in Year 12 similarly found the experience useful: ‘I learnt how to get around the difficult parts of writing fiction and non-fiction. It definitely helped me with both, and I can feel my essays getting better as I write them with Anna’s advice in mind.’ 

The group were also given a tour of the library, spending time in the Exhibitions Gallery where, as Dr Rigali put it, they ‘marvelled at some of the gems in the collection’. This was the highlight of the day for Safaa: ‘We were able to explore the library's treasure, which contained a vast range of historic manuscripts, including original drafts by Jane Austen!’

The trip was a huge success, providing many insights into the power of literature and language. ‘This was a fantastic opportunity for students to appreciate how the written word underpins our human relationships,’ says Dr Rigali. ‘It is how we communicate when we are not there in person.’