Musician James Dixon gets Marhamchurch pupils writing songs

Turning a few scattered ideas into a line worth singing is harder than it sounds. Pupils at Marhamchurch C of E Academy gave it a go anyway, sitting down with a working musician to find out how a song is built from scratch.

A songwriting session with a difference

The workshop was led by musician James Dixon and formed part of a run of school events tied to the Bude Literary Festival, which brought authors, artists and performers into local schools to spark creativity and a love of storytelling.

Working with James, pupils looked at how lyrics are put together and how personal ideas and experiences can be shaped into poetry and song, before having a crack at writing their own pieces. The aim was to get pupils experimenting with language and expression, using music to build creativity, confidence and a genuine appetite for writing.

More than just music

The songwriting was one part of a much busier programme. Pupils across Marhamchurch and St Mark’s C of E Academy in Shop, Bude, took part in a performance of The Three Billy Pigs by Noisy Oyster Theatre Company, a folklore workshop led by author Sam Horton, and a sock puppet workshop with Becky Horne.

Pupils at St Mark’s also headed to the Parkhouse Centre in Bude for a performance of The Wind in the Willows.

The schools framed the activities as part of a wider push on creative learning, giving pupils the chance to engage with music, storytelling, performance and the arts in ways the timetable does not usually allow.

What the schools said

Deirdre Petersen, headteacher at Marhamchurch C of E Academy, said the response from pupils had been a pleasure to watch.

“We are hugely grateful to all the artists, authors and performers who delivered sessions with our pupils as part of the Bude Literary Festival programme. It’s a joy to see pupils so inspired, exploring music, language and performance in creative and imaginative ways. Experiences like these play an important role in helping children develop confidence and a love of learning.”

Tracey Cleverly, Trust Lead at the Learning Academy Partnership, said the appetite for the sessions had been clear.

“It’s been wonderful to see Marhamchurch Primary School host such an array of artists and creative sessions. These kinds of experiences help pupils build confidence, curiosity and a genuine enjoyment of learning, and it’s encouraging to see schools taking them up so positively.”

Marhamchurch and St Mark’s both sit within the Learning Academy Partnership, which runs the two schools as part of its trust.