Superheroes: Words are our Power was a pioneering four-year project (2019-22) funded by Paul Hamlyn Foundation More and Better fund that explored new creative writing strategies for primary schools.  Using Superheroes as a force for change we helped children use their imaginations through creative writing, play and story creation. Whilst also supporting teachers to put creativity back into the curriculum.

The project aimed to:

  • Increase children’s creativity, confidence and resilience
  • Help encourage positive attitudes to engagement and learning
  • Encourage a child-centred approach to English and writing
  • Give teachers the tools to develop their own creative practice in the classroom.

At WoW, we know that representation matters, and we are committed to promoting diverse literature that reflects and celebrates the rich differences in our world. Young people are shaped by the media they consume at home, who they see in their communities, and what they learn in school. Unfortunately, classrooms do not always accurately reflect the children within them. The lack of representation in literature is an ongoing problem with the Centre for Literacy in Primary Education has found that only 7% of children’s books published in the UK between 2017 and 2019 featured characters of colour.

With Super Heroes: Words are our Power, WoW successfully changed this outdated narrative. Our book enriched the lives of young people with captivating stories from diverse writers, developing their confidence, imagination and well-being through relatable characters and narratives.

If you want to find out more about our Super Heroes schools project, please click on the links below: