OLDER pupils at South Craven School have benefited from a workshop designed to help them explore ideas surrounding both journalism and creative writing.

The session was delivered by Mick Callanan, delivery director of the Orwell Youth Prize, and author Delia Jarrett-Macauley.

A South Craven spokesman said: "They came to deliver the first of two workshops to around 20 students from Years 11, 12 and 13.

"The students were engaged in a range of activities exploring ideas surrounding journalism and the sharing of ideas, developing their critical viewpoints, reading George Orwell’s essay 'A Hanging', and learning top tips about all kinds of creative writing.

"They are looking forward to Mick’s return in April for the second workshop, where they will work on the drafts for their own entries to the Orwell Youth competition.

"The theme of this year’s competition is George Orwell's statement: 'If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear.'

"Hopefully our students will have some success in the competition, which will culminate in a prizegiving event at Pembroke College, Oxford."