WHEN pupils put down pens last Wednesday it was not a sign of student revolt, but on instruction from their literacy teacher.

Youngsters at Lydiard Park Academy embraced the No Pens Day initiative from the Communications Trust encouraging them to swap writing in favour of listening and speaking and enhance their speech, language and communication skills.

All 250 Year 7 students spent the morning taking part in a range of pen-free activities, from using drama and music to telling stories and considering everyday life without the ability to write.

icki Buchalik from the literacy team said: “During the course of the day the Year 7 students worked on a variety of tasks which involved these skills. This included story telling drama skills, developing music, tone and rhyme through the use of natural and human percussion instruments. The students had to examine everyday life and think about what would happen if you didn’t have the ability to write. This challenged them to think about techniques that would involve verbal and non verbal communication.

“It was an exciting and eventful day which developed team building skills and improved communication. Hopefully people will enhance communication skills which are essential for everyone in life.”

First established in 2011, No Pens Day Wednesday 2014 reached a total of over 3,600 schools and settings across the country. For more information about No Pens Day visit www.thecommunicationtrust.org.uk/projects/no-pens-day-wednesday.