A Fantastically Animated Morning with Paterson Joseph

12 November 2025 | Share:

As part of Anti-Bullying Week, our Year 5 and 6 students took part in a special PSHE event hosted across the GDST network of schools. We were thrilled to welcome actor and author Paterson Joseph to our Junior School – an event that was hosted at our junior school and beamed live to pupils across the GDST community.

Paterson was amazing – animated, engaging, and full of energy. He spoke about how his fascination with origin stories and where people come from helped shape the characters in his new book, 10 Children Who Changed the World. Each story celebrates a young person who has faced challenges such as discrimination or disability, yet gone on to make a lasting impact on the world.

Like the story of William Cuffay, which is also the eighth story in Paterson’s book and which he read to us, about a boy who once stood up to save his best friend’s father’s job. William later became one of the founders of the Chartist movement.

Everyone was captivated and full of thoughtful questions!

Shreya asked what his life was like when he was 10 years old.
- Answer: “Playful – and when I played Bill Sikes, it was the first time someone told me I was good at something.”
Alice wondered which of his book’s characters he’d most like to be friends with.
- Answer: “John Edmonstone, who grew up in Guyana, was fascinated by taxidermy, and later taught Charles Darwin.”
Shania asked whether he prefers playing good or bad characters.
- Answer: “The bad guys – they’re more fun!”
Arya wanted to know what his experience was like with LAMDA.
- Answer: “Hugely insightful. LAMDA is a great place to try out lots of different characters.”
Claudia asked for his top tips on becoming an author or actor.
- Answer: “Keep reading and writing, and always observe people. Ask yourself why they behave the way they do.”

It was a morning filled with inspiration and thoughtful reflection – a perfect reminder of the Power for Good we all hold to make a difference.

Thank you, Mr Joseph, for sharing your stories and wisdom so generously with our students, and to Mrs Ferguson, who as well as teaching our juniors also works as a Trust Consultant across the GDST and helped make this special event possible.