A new chapter for school as top author Anthony Horowitz launched new library

Anthony Horowitz visited the Heath Lane secondary school, which has relocated its library and created a new Sixth Form study area after a programme of works which took place during thesummer.

Author and OBE recipient Anthony – best-known for his Alex Rider series of young adult books, and as the scriptwriter of Foyle’s War –gave an entertaining talk to Year 7 and 8 students during the visit on Monday, answering many questions about his career and his books.

A large selection of Anthony’s books were made available for sale and he spent some considerable time signing books for students and staff.

A group of Year 9 students interviewed Anthony – who has also revived Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes series with two new novels about the fictional sleuth – for the BBC School Report project.

In the afternoon, the writer then gave a creative writing workshop to a small group of Year 10 students.

Headteacher Patrick Harty thanked those who had made the library possible, stressing the importance of libraries and reading, while Anthony complimented the students and called its new library ‘the beating heart of the school’. He recalled his own school days when the library was, for him, the most important part of the school.

He then unveiled a plaque commemorating the official opening.