The sixth annual Swindon Youth Festival Of Literature will get under way on Monday, after an introductory session at Churchfields Academy yesterday.

The festival, which will take place in 11 participating secondary schools, Swindon Central Library and the Wyvern Theatre between Monday and Friday, was made possible by the Swindon Association of Secondary Headteachers.

The 11 heads of each participating school chipped in £1,300 each, bringing the overall cost of the festival to £14,300.

A total of 8,000 pupils from 49 schools, including about 40 primaries, will have the chance to work with authors, poets, illustrators and storytellers at readings, performances and workshops.

Annette Whatley, the librarian at Commonweal School, in Old Town said: “It’s been full on.

“I sat back in my chair this morning because I’d got everything just about done.

“All the hall bookings have needed doing and then we have to get the parents’ permission for every pupil involved, plus a double check with every member of staff that the children shouldn’t be in their class when they are due at a festival event.

“I don’t think the year sevens know what to expect from the week, but I think during the week itself there will be a buzz among the children.”

The big change to this year’s proceedings will be the introduction of pupils from years five and six, who attend the primary schools which feed into each secondary school.

At Isambard Community School, there will be one event which 300 nine to 11-year-olds from its five feeder primary schools will attend.

Isambard School pupils will become helpers during the activities.

“We want to bring this festival to as many students as possible, which is why the primary school children are being included,” said Stella Rogers, the school’s learning resource centre manager.

“It will give the younger children a chance to see how things work at a secondary school.”

Fiona Hardcastle, the librarian at Dorcan Academy, has been co-ordinating the festival.

She said: “It’s just making sure we have got the children tying in with the school day, because everyone has different timetables.

“The logistics of the whole thing have been the biggest obstacle, but we have worked well together as separate schools.

“We want to make sure that everyone gets the opportunity to see something.

“Dorcan did pilot it [primary school children] last year and it worked so well, we just thought, if the heads were happy to give us some extra money we will be able to do it across all schools.”

l Don’t miss writer and illustrator Fred Blunt’s session at Churchfields Academy – see Monday’s Adver