NEWS
Teacher turns to crime
A walk in the park may not be the usual route to success, but it helped shape a new career path for an NASUWT member. Writing under the pen name Leigh Russell,
English teacher Alison Leigh is the author of a series of crime novels that follow DI Geraldine Steel as she attempts to solve a succession of grisly murders. The first in the series, Cut Short, was published last year and the follow-up, Road Closed, is due to be released in June. Alison is currently working on the third in the series. The move into writing was inspired by a visit to a pupil on
work experience. “I was taking a short cut through a park on my way to see the student”, explained Alison. “It was raining, so the park was deserted, and as I walked past a thick copse of trees a man suddenly appeared from behind the bushes. “He just carried on his way, but it made me think, what if he had hidden a body in there? We are all so close to being on the outskirts of a terrible crime, and as soon as I got home I just started writing the story based on the idea of a body being discovered in a park.” With no particular aspirations in mind, Alison continued to write and had finished a draft within six weeks. She sent the manuscript to a number of publishers and within a couple of weeks had secured a deal.
Alison continues to teach at Aldenham School in Hertfordshire and both her first and third novels took inspiration from her day job by featuring teachers as central characters. “I fell into writing like Alice down the rabbit hole”, Alison says, adding: “I can’t believe that, in my 50’s, I am reinventing myself as an author.”
For more information on Alison’s books, visit her website at
www.leighrussell.blogspot.com.
Reel inspiration
Bringing the magic of the movies to schools is the mission of FILMCLUB, a free UK-wide service offering children and young people access to thousands of classic and popular films.
Founded by film director Beeban Kidron and educationalist Lindsay Mackie, FILMCLUB offers schools the opportunity to hold weekly after-school screenings and activities. Free and easy to set up, FILMCLUB aims to open children’s eyes to an array of cultures, life stories, times and places in a fun environment. Teachers can access thousands of DVDs through the FILMCLUB website – with free delivery straight to the members’ school. The broad range of films available represents over 100 years of cinema, covering every genre and era of moviemaking and featuring popular blockbuster fare alongside foreign language and silent films. Members of FILMCLUB also have the opportunity to take
part in the unique Close Encounters programme, which arranges VIP guest visits and interactions with film industry experts, enabling students to attend Q&A sessions, screenings, workshops and movie-set visits. Over 4,000 schools have signed up so far and over 80%
of participating teachers reported that FILMCLUB has had a positive effect on children’s learning and attitudes to school.
Please visit
www.filmclub.org for further information on setting up a club or contact the FILMCLUB schools team on 020 7288 4520.
DIARY DATES – ADVANCE NOTICE
Womens Teachers’ Consultation Conference
Saturday 2 October 2010, Hilton Metropole, Birmingham, 10:30am-3:30pm
BME Teachers’ Consultation Conference
Saturday 27 November 2010, Hilton Metropole, Birmingham, 10:30am-3:30pm
Young Teachers’ Consultation Conference
Saturday 22 January 2011, Hilton Metropole, Birmingham, 10:30am-3:30pm
Conferences are FREE to all NASUWT members.
To book a place, please contact the Conferences and Events Team at
conferencesandevents@mail.nasuwt.org.uk, or telephone 0121 453 6150.
JOIN NOWand attend the conferences
Quick and easy, no hassle. Tel: 0121 457 6211 or online:
www.nasuwt.org.uk.
Overnight accommodation, travel and subsistence expenses and childcare provided.
www.nasuwt.org.uk
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