Earlier this half term, we enjoyed attending the live Yoto Carnegie Awards Ceremony in London! This trip is a firm favourite in the NCW calendar that our avid readers look forward to!

Each year thousands of reading groups in schools and libraries in the UK and around the world get involved in the Yoto Carnegie Awards, with children and young people ‘shadowing’ the judging process, including NCW.

As always, Mrs Holmes the NCW librarian, shared The Yoto Carnegie Medal for Writing Shortlist 2024 with students and staff. The Book Group enjoyed devouring the books and discovering new authors. A firm favourite with students was The Song Walker by Zillah Bethell. 

The ceremony was held at the Cambridge Theatre in London, which stages Matilda the Musical. It was even more magical when the character Mrs Phelps (Miss Honey in the Roald Dahl Book) helped host the ceremony and the songs from the famous musical were played in the background.

Students and staff enjoyed front-row seats – sitting just behind all the famous authors. Unfortunately, Zillah Bethell was not there but this was soon forgotten when NCW won the sponsor’s draw and received a Yoto audiobook player!

The 2024 Yoto Carnegie Shadowers’ Choice Medal for Writing went to Crossing the Line by Tia Fisher. A story told in verse about a boy whose bad behaviour attracts the wrong crowd and he’s sucked into a terrifying new world of drug dealing, trap houses and violence. The book explores drug crime and county lines, and has a message to spread about friendship.

After the ceremony students Jamie and Keziah got to speak with Tia Fisher and Maxwell chatted with Joseph Coelho!

Students and Staff had a wonderful day and would like to pass on their thanks to everyone who made the day possible.