Abbey Gate College was delighted to welcome award-winning author Mitch Johnson, writer of Kick, Pop!, Spark and Toxic, for an engaging and thought-provoking visit to the College.

All J5 and J6 pupils, together with 52 students and staff from Farndon, Saighton CofE and Delamere CofE Primary Schools, attended a lively and topical assembly in the College theatre. Mitch led an interactive session exploring the themes behind his much-acclaimed novels and the real-world issues that inspire his writing.

Mitch was invited to Abbey Gate College as part of our ongoing commitment to promoting literacy and a love of reading, and because the issues addressed in his books align closely with our values. He believes that books can be a “means of activism as well as entertainment”, choosing to write stories about social injustice that are “infused with warmth and humour”.

During the assembly, Mitch focused particularly on his Amnesty International-endorsed debut novel Kick, which examines themes such as consumerism, unequal access to income-earning opportunities and the exploitation of adult and child labour in sweatshops. Through discussion, readings and questions, pupils were encouraged to think deeply about these topics and consider the impact of their own choices as global citizens.

Following the assembly, Mitch led a creative writing workshop with all Year 7 students. In this session, he helped pupils to develop their writing skills, build confidence in their own ideas and explore ways to weave important international issues into compelling stories. Students responded enthusiastically, generating imaginative plotlines and characters while reflecting on the real-world challenges highlighted in Mitch’s work.

The visit was a valuable opportunity for pupils to see how fiction can illuminate complex global issues and spark meaningful discussion. We are very grateful to Mitch for his time, insight and encouragement, and for supporting our continued focus on literacy, critical thinking and values-led learning at Abbey Gate College.