We were delighted to welcome Chip Colquhoun from Epic Tales to our school for truly inspiring 2 days of storytelling, creativity and imagination. Visiting for a special assembly and a series of workshops with Year 7, Chip brought stories to life in a way that captivated students from the very first moment.

Chip began with a whole-school assembly focused on the importance of stories. He explained how storytelling is one of the oldest and most powerful ways humans connect, share ideas and understand the world. Through humour, dramatic voices and expressive gestures, he demonstrated how stories can shape our thinking, build empathy and spark creativity.

Chip also worked with each Year 7 form in workshop sessions. He briefly revisited the story from the assembly, helping students to think more deeply about its themes.

The highlight of the workshops was an interactive storytelling activity. Chip invited students to contribute ideas, find solutions and think of different paths the story can take.

A key focus of the workshop was imagination — what it is, why it matters and how we can make it stronger. Chip explained that imagination works like a muscle: the more we use it, the stronger it becomes.

To close the session, Chip told one final engaging story. Once again, the room was completely absorbed. Gasps, laughter and wide-eyed anticipation showed just how deeply the students were involved. It was the perfect ending to a day dedicated to the magic of storytelling.

Chip Colquhoun’s visit was both entertaining and educational. Year 7 left the workshops not only with memorable stories, but with a renewed appreciation for the power of imagination and the confidence to create their own. It was a fantastic experience that we will be talking about for a long time to come.