Can life get anymore exciting for 12 year old, budding author, Lauren Hazeldine from Coulsdon?
Earlier in the year, the Year 7 student from Oasis Academy Coulsdon won a national writing competition. As a result of her success Lauren has been invited to the prestigious Teach First Awards being held in London at the Royal National Geographical Society on Thursday evening, 17th June and will be reading an extract from her award winning story ‘Money’ to Michael Gove, Secretary of State for Education and a very distinguished audience of education professionals and Teach First Award winners.
The evening promises to be a glittering occasion hosted by Channel 4 newsreader Krishnan Guru-Murty. Celebrity guests include best-selling author Joanna Trollope, singer Michael Ball and Strictly Come Dancing judge; Craig Revel Horwood.
Lauren’s English teacher Caitlin O’Keefe, who has just completed her first year on the Teach First programme said: “ I am so proud of Lauren, her hard work and her success. It is such an exciting opportunity for her to read her very own story in front of so many important people in Education”.
Lauren’s award-winning story ‘Money’ was judged overall winner of a national writing competition sponsored by Citibank. The competition, ‘First Story’ attracted hundreds of entries across the UK and was judged by a distinguished panel of judges including Sophie Dahl. Lauren’s story is published in an anthology and she was invited to the book launch at Citibank’s head office in Canary Wharf earlier this year.
Lauren said: “I’m very nervous but really looking to the evening, it’s going to be very exciting.”
David Millar, Principal of Oasis Academy Coulsdon, said: “We are incredibly proud of Lauren, she is a very talented writer. I am quite sure we will be seeing Lauren’s name in bookstores across the country in the not too distant future. I would also like to pay tribute to Miss O’Keefe, her teacher, who joined us last September under the Teach First programme. Miss O’Keefe is an outstanding practitioner and her enthusiasm and commitment to teaching is proving inspirational for many students, including Lauren.”
Lauren will be reading the following extract from her story ‘Money’:
“Oh my goodness, where am I?” Daniel cried. He put his hand into his pocket to get out some money and realised that his wallet was empty! “Well I suppose I’d better get a job then.” He rushed off to the Job Agency. They only had one job left: a cook in the local bakery. “Well that’s sorted then, isn’t it? I’ll start straight away tomorrow morning,” he said cheerily.
Daniel set off to his flat. As soon as he got home he went straight to bed and dreamt happily all night long.
The next day he set off for his new job but wasn’t very good and constantly burnt the food. He knew he was in for the sack, and that day would be soon, but nothing could prepare him for the inevitable. Soon after, the money started running out and Daniel became quite desperate. He couldn’t pay the bills, buy food or any other luxuries, let alone pay the rent! He had no other choice: he had to become a CRIMINAL!
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