The Waterstones Children’s Laureate and author of the How to Train Your Dragon series shares her schools days at Marlborough College, Wiltshire
Marlborough in three words…
Creative, entrepreneurial, sociable. I joined at 16, after studying at St Paul?s Girls? School. SPGS had amazing arts facilities but I left because I was both academic and creative and they preferred us to concentrate on academia.
Who was your best friend"
Lauren Child ? the author of the Charlie and Lola books. We?d write stories and draw maps of imaginary worlds.
Were you ever in the detention room"
I was always in trouble for not handing in my homework on time. But when I finally did, it would be pages long!
Are you a team player" I am. I work as a team with my publisher; the production company Dreamworks, who turned my books into films; my agent; my publicity team; and also the National Literacy Trust, with whom I work with a great deal. I go into schools and attend festivals, which makes me feel part of the process in getting children to read. I love our team spirit to achieve the objective ? to get children reading for pleasure.
What prize were you most proud of at school"
I won a National Gallery prize, aged nine, where I wrote about a painting. It was a huge boost to my confidence.
Which teacher stays with you to this day"
There were three. A teacher at my primary school, Miss Mellows, who would always let me write what I wanted without an emphasis on spe...