For the third year running, several lucky English students got the chance to spend a day doing work experience at the Guardian Hay Festival. Under the guidance of Festival supremo, Peter Florence, amongst other opportunities, the students got the chance to shadow journalists, were asked to provide research on the authors at the Festival and contributed to the Festival's official blog:

http://hayfestivalblog.com/?cat=5

As well as meeting writers and rubbing shoulders with the literati, simply spending a day surrounded by a range of people, for whom literature and writing in general was such an important part of their daily lives, proved inspirational for the students and made this yet another hugely successful Hay experience.

Next stop Segovia 2010 although the newly established Hay Festival in the Maldives looks like an ideal opportunity for pupil (and teacher) enrichment to me.....

Mr Petrie