Bradford

The Adventures of Bradford

A Legacy Project Empowering Every Child to Become the Hero of Their Own Story

This is not just another literacy initiative....

It is a Cultural Legacy Project !

To put Bradford’s schools in the national spotlight, engage families, build community, strengthen identity, boost literacy, creativity, and confidence.

An Ambitious Citywide Storytelling Project

That will empower thousands of Year 5/6 children to become authors of their own adventure stories, expressing their creativity, confidence, and pride.

Using the StoryQuest Framework

—a structured approach developed from years of experience extracting personal stories, each child will:

✅ Craft their own unique adventure story
✅ Express their creativity through words and illustrations
✅ Develop confidence in writing, oracy, and storytelling
✅ See their story professionally printed in The Adventures of (School Name).

But this is more than just a school project.

It’s a Movement.

Each participating school will also select one standout story to be featured in The Adventures of Bradford, a citywide anthology showcasing the voices of Bradford’s children. This landmark book will be launched at a special celebration event, honouring the next generation of young writers.

Why This Project Matters

Bradford is one of the UK’s youngest and most diverse cities. As we move towards Bradford 2025: UK City of Culture, we have a unique opportunity to ensure that every 9–11-year-old in the city leaves a lasting mark on our cultural heritage—through the power of storytelling.

This project is about more than writing—it’s about identity, confidence, and unity.

It ensures that every child’s voice is heard, valued, and celebrated.
It brings creativity into every home, uniting families through shared storytelling.
It positions Bradford as a leader in youth creativity and literacy.
It creates a lasting memory—a beautifully printed book that each child will treasure forever.

Aligning with SATs, the National Curriculum & PHSE

This project is designed to enhance and support the learning journey of Year 5 and 6 students, aligning seamlessly with the National Curriculum for English, Creativity, and PHSE:

📖 English & SATs Readiness

✅ Supports key skills in composition, grammar, vocabulary, and editing
✅ Strengthens reading comprehension, inference, and oracy
✅ Encourages independent storytelling and structured writing development

🎨 Creativity & Critical Thinking

✅ Encourages imagination and narrative development
✅ Fosters problem-solving and deeper thinking through storytelling
✅ Provides structured freedom—students create while learning essential literacy skills

💡 PHSE: Overcoming Obstacles, Emotional Wellbeing & Self-Belief

✅ Helps children explore resilience, challenges, and triumph through storytelling
✅ Encourages self-expression and emotional literacy
✅ Develops confidence, empathy, and a growth mindset

Teachers observe students who were once hesitant about writing fully engaged, eager to stay behind, and excited to continue their stories—proof that this project inspires young writers.

How Does The Project Work?

Step 1: Storytelling Workshop
Each Year 5/6 class takes part in a dynamic full day StoryQuest™ Framework workshop, guiding students step-by-step in crafting their adventure stories.
Step 2: A Book for Every Child.
All student stories are compiled into a professionally printed book—The Adventures of [Your School Name]. Each project includes five copies, with the option to purchase additional books, ensuring every child can take home a cherished keepsake.
Step 3: School Book Launch (Optional)
Schools can celebrate their young authors with a special book launch event, bringing families together to share in their children’s achievements.
Step 4: Citywide Recognition
Each school selects one standout story to feature in The Adventures of Bradford, professionally published and launched.

The Heart of This Project: The Adventures of Gabriel

What makes The Adventures of Bradford truly unique? Its roots in a real child’s journey.

This initiative was inspired by The Adventures of Gabriel, a book co-authored by a Bradford child, Gabriel, and his mother. Gabriel loved stories but never imagined he could write his own—until he did. That experience changed everything and sparked a mission to help thousands of other children realise that their voices matter too.

But Gabriel didn’t just inspire this project—he helped make it happen. Instead of emails or calls, he handwrote letters to every primary school headteacher in Bradford, personally inviting them to join. His message?

"Your school is full of young adventurers. Their voices matter. Their stories matter. Will you join us in helping them tell their tales?"

Teachers and students alike see Gabriel as one of them—proof that storytelling belongs to everyone, not just professional authors or top students. His journey makes The Adventures of Bradford uniquely authentic, relatable, and impossible to replicate.

✨ “If Gabriel can do it, so can we.”

A Personal Note From Gabriel's Mum

I'm Kate

Why This Matters to Me

When I was five, I experienced something no child should—witnessing a tragic accident that took my grandmother’s life. My family didn’t talk about it. But stories connected us.

My mum read to us every night. My grandad filled our lives with humor through his Yorkshire monologues. And I found my own escape and strength in books.

Now, I bring that same process and inspiration to the children of Bradford, closing the circle and bringing the art and power of storytelling back to the city that shaped me.

This project isn’t just about books,

It’s about voices.
It’s about giving every child in Bradford the chance to see themselves as the hero of their own story.

Let’s make sure that The Adventures of Bradford becomes a legacy that will inspire generations to come.

✨ Join us in making history—one story at a time.

Seeing our classrooms come alive with oracy and imagination was amazing. The children were bouncing ideas off each other, sharing their creativity, and truly engaging with writing in a way we hadn’t seen before."

____Year 6 Teacher, Bradford

I was proud because I have never written a story with as much detail as this one"

____Yr 6, Bradford

As Year 6 teachers, we are used to structured learning, especially in the run-up to SATs. Letting go and allowing students the freedom to write was daunting at first, but the results were incredible. They took ownership, structured their ideas, and embraced their creativity."

____English Lead, Bradford Academy

It felt really exciting because I've never done something like this before. I was also happy that it was a story we made by ourself."

____Yr 6, Bradford

Hearing students use ambitious vocabulary without relying on a model or word wall made us so proud. Their ideas flowed naturally, and they truly started thinking like writers."

____Year 6 Teacher, Manningham

Thank you for giving me an opportunity to do this. You have really inspired me!"

____Yr 6, Bradford

Peer assessment played a huge role.Students questioned each other’s choices, refined their ideas, and thought deeply about their audience. A simple old man in a story became a demon disguised as a professor—their imagination was unstoppable!"

____Teacher, Bradford

It was very good and made me wake up."

____Yr 6, Bradford

Writing has never been easy for some of our students, particularly some of the boys. But today, they were eager, engaged, and didn’t want to stop. Seeing that level of enthusiasm was just incredible."

____Year 6 Teacher, Bradford

I felt good because I wrote my first actual story"

____Yr 6, Bradford

Bringing in published authors made writing feel real for our students. It helped them see that their words matter, that they too can be writers."

____English Lead, Bradford Academy

This whole experience has transformed the way our students view writing. They now see themselves as writers, and we can’t wait to see where their creativity takes them next!"

____Year 6 Teacher, Manningham

Join The Adventures of Bradford

Every child has a story to tell. Let’s make sure the world hears it.