Date Posted: 01/05/2026Current News
Category / School News Posted on: 05/03/2026
World Book Day
Visit from Karl Nova
Karl totally captivated our students with his highly engaging style of storytelling and top performances of poetry and rap. With a perfect blend of humour and seriousness, he explored how and why he became a rapper and writer, and the challenges he faced at different stages of his life.
He really made our students laugh, but also encouraged them to contemplate their futures. Karl was personable and charismatic throughout the day, entertained numerous questions and motivated students to write their own poetry.
Rory in 8RW
Karl Nova is a humble and amusing young man, who certainly made lots of our students laugh and giggle. I very much liked his calmness and how he gets what it's like to be a young person. I am inspired by his rise to fame, from being born in London to being dropped off in Nigeria for 14 years with his father he had never met! So overall, I really enjoyed Karl Nova’s visit to Kingshott school and would definitely accept another visit.
Dillan in 8RW
Karl Nova had a great sense of humour! The way he told his story made me feel like I was there and that I was the spectator. He showed me that we should follow our hearts and trust our gut feeling even when people bring you down. He inspired me to take poetry more seriously and that whenever I look at a poem I must try to understand it with a deeper sense of meaning.
Mimi in 8RW
Karl's talk was excellent as it was highly engaging, very funny and yet quite poignant when he was talking about his background as a child in London and Nigeria and what inspired him to write. I enjoyed his workshops as they were very funny and interactive, especially when he shared his writing and encouraged us to write our own poems. Overall, Karl Nova was the best author visit we've had!
Will in 9MT
I liked Karl Nova's speech in the morning as he shared his fascinating childhood, especially how he moved to Nigeria with his dad. We learned that he found a love of poetry and rap from a young age. During the workshop with Karl, I liked how he taught us how to make our own poems (with the last line of every stanza repeating).
Olly in 9MT
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Visit from Karen Inglis
We were pleased to welcome Karen Inglis, who spent the day with classes from Year 1 all the way through to Year 6, inspiring pupils with her warmth, creativity and deep passion for storytelling. Across each year group, she shared the journey behind her books, talked about how she develops characters and plots, and gave students a fascinating glimpse into the writing process.
She spoke about where her ideas come from, taking everyday observations to “what if?” moments, and explained how these sparks grow into full stories like Ferdinand Fox, The Secret Lake, Eeek! and her newest titles.
Many of our pupils left her sessions buzzing with ideas for their own books and excited to try out some of the techniques she shared.
What I liked most about Karl Nova was when he rapped freestyle using eight random words which we gave him. I had never heard anything like it! I also enjoyed how he left every single person in the room laughing, which contrasted with the heartfelt story of his past in Nigeria and London. Overall, I really enjoyed the day with Karl Nova and would love for him to come back again.
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Roving Book Fair – A Fantastic Success!
We’re delighted to share that the recent Roving Book Fair was a tremendous success. Thanks to the enthusiasm and support of our school community, the fair achieved nearly £3,000 in sales, which means the school receives around £500 to spend on new books.
We’re excited to use these funds to further enrich our reading spaces. This includes expanding the book collections in both the Rowan and Ashbrook library areas, as well as investing in a selection of new titles for the Senior School. These additions will help ensure that all students have access to a diverse, engaging, and inspiring range of books. Thank you once again to everyone who supported the event!
