FREE Primary Schools Event: Matt Goodfellow
Thu 21 May 2026 | 10:30am - 12:00pm
FREE Primary Schools Event: Matt Goodfellow
An invitation for year 5 and 6 pupils to come and meet Matt Goodfellow, award-winning poet and writer, who will deliver an interactive talk, exploring the theme of poetry as rebel writing, working with the audience to explore accent, dialect and the freedom of poetry as a way of expressing yourself. Pupils will have the chance to ask questions, and learn about Matt’s journey to becoming a writer. His books are particularly great for primary school leavers who are navigating big life changes.
Matt’s highly anticipated new book Six Weeks is a compulsively readable and relatable story of grief and growing up, family and repair. It’s about Alfie Piper, who has six long weeks of summer ahead of him – and nothing left to lose. Since his mum died, Alfie’s world has unravelled. The silence between him and his stepdad roars louder than ever. So he does the only thing that makes sense: grabs his bike, and rides.
Compulsively readable and relatable, this is a story of grief, and light, and family.
With thanks to The Lujenna Educational Trust.
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If you represent a non-fee paying school and would like to apply for tickets please follow the link below.
Venue: Cambridge Union
Duration: 2 hours
Author Biography
Matt Goodfellow is the award-winning, bestselling author of The Final Year and The First Year based in Manchester and has written poetry collections for all age groups. His debut verse novel The Final Year became an instant bestseller – selling over 35,000 copies through the TCM to date – and has gone on to win, and be shortlisted for, many different awards including CLiPPA, The Carnegie Medal, Branford Boase, and FCBG Children’s Book Award. He is currently Booktrust’s Writer in Residence, focusing on the theme of ‘voice and choice’ – bringing to life the idea that children thrive when they can choose books that reflect their voices, lives and communities. His work uplifts regional voices & dialects in literature & poetry, showing young people that their voice, their story, and their life matters.
Matt was a Year 6 primary teacher in Manchester for over 10 years before writing professionally. He now visits schools, libraries, conferences and festivals around the UK and beyond, inspiring children and adults to get involved with poetry through his performances and workshops. Matt has also worked extensively with organisations including The Premier League, The National Literacy Trust, The Forward Arts Foundation, CLPE, and is proud to be an ambassador for National Poetry Day.
Teacher Resource Pack & Pupil Feedback Form
We have created a Pupil Feedback Form that you can download from the website now. We’ll also be creating a Teacher Resource Sheet in advance of the event to help with your class preparation.
