Many of BLF's 2026 Secondary events are nearly fully booked. If the event you’re interested in has sold out, you can add your name and the number of places you require to the waiting list. If places become available, BLF will be in touch.
View the full event programme and book your students' tickets: https://www.bradfordlitfest.co.uk/education-programme/secondary/
Key Stage 3 and 4 Events
Shaking Up Shakespeare - Friday 3 July
Drama and History
Shake up everything you thought you knew about the Bard in this lively exploration of his works and their relevance today. Begin with Shakespeare’s world; the people, places, and events that inspired his famous plays.
Classic Fiction Everyone Should Read - Monday 6 July
English
What makes a novel a classic, and why do these stories still matter today? Students will explore the enduring power of literature across three key strands. They will see women who defied convention in works like The Handmaid’s Tale.
Examine novels that fought back against injustice, such as To Kill a Mockingbird and Orwell’s work. Revisit Victorian tales that shocked their world, from Dickens and Brontë to Gothic thrillers. Together, these themes show how writers across centuries
and cultures continue to shape the way we read and think today.
Dystopia & Utopia - Tuesday 7 July
English
Why do writers imagine perfect worlds or worlds gone wrong? Join us to explore how utopian dreams and dystopian nightmares challenge us to think differently about society, freedom and justice. Explore landmark texts from Orwell classic 1984 to modern
best-seller The Hunger Games, alongside other visions that shaped and shocked readers across generations.
The gothic - Wednesday 8 July
English
Step into the Gothic and uncover why its dark power continues to fascinate. Journey into the haunted mind, exploring paranoia, dreams, and the uncanny in stories that blur the line between reality and imagination. Discover how Mary Shelley reshaped the genre
with Frankenstein, introducing science and philosophy into Gothic writing.
Performance Poetry - Thursday 9 July
English and Spoken Language
Performance poetry comes alive in this vibrant day of spoken word and creativity. Across the day, four distinctive poets will take to the stage, each bringing a unique performance style and writing approach, from slam and spoken word to lyrical and narrative
traditions.
Stand Up and Be Counted - Friday 10 July
PSHE
Stand Up and Be Counted explores the power of voice and what it means to be heard in this engaging day focused on communication, activism, and self-expression. Students begin by learning how confidence, clarity, and presence shape the way ideas are shared,
developing practical skills to speak up in everyday situations.
Find out more about each event and book tickets: https://www.bradfordlitfest.co.uk/education-programme/secondary/