Student Sessions and workshops

We offer sessions on issues around race, masculinity, popular culture, writing and identity for school students of all ages.

All engagements start with an insights meeting with Jeffrey, so that he can understand your school’s context, needs and requirements. This ensures all sessions are tailored to your requirements.

“Jeffrey’s talk with our students was electrifying! With refreshing openness, effortless charisma and boundless energy, he challenged our learners to rethink their understanding of their place in the world and responsibilities to their communities. The session provoked many important, ongoing discussions - in classrooms and staffrooms - concerning how meaningful social change might be brought about. Thrilling and powerful stuff.”

Student Sessions

Jeffrey has a range of talks available to students of all ages. All talks can be tailored to your context and requirements, along with age group, so please get in touch with any requests.

Musical Truth

Exploring modern Black British history

This session explores modern black British history through a playlist of songs. This session sits alongside Musical Truth: A musical journey through modern black Britain. This book is aimed at 11- to 15-year-olds, but this session can be tailored to be suitable for KS1 +.

Masculinity

Exploring the impact of masculinity

How do we talk about the problem with masculinity and the rise in toxic role-models? How is masculinity impacting on both boys and girls, men and women? And how can we understand our role in dismantling the patriarchy? This session can be tailored to be suitable for KS2 +.

Black, Listed

Exploring race and identity

This session explores identity through terms associated with black British people and culture. It can challenges students to understand their own identity and that of the people around them along with the impact of the language they are using. This book is aimed at adults and young adults, but this session is suitable for KS3 +.

Musical World

Exploring Pivotal Moments in History

This session explores pivotal moments in world history through popular songs. This session sits alongside Musical World: Modern World History as You’ve Never Heard it Before. This book is aimed at 11- to 15-year-olds, but this session can be tailored to be suitable for KS1 +.

Writing

Being an author

What does it mean to be a writer? How can you tell your story? In this session, Jeffrey shares his journey in writing and inspires children to use writing to tell their story. Suitable for KS1 +.

The Kofi Series

Back to the 90s with Kofi

A jam-packed and fun-filled trip back to the 1990s to explore the world of Kofi from Kofi and the Rap Battle Summer, Kofi and the Secret Radio Station and Kofi and the brand New Vibe. These sessions introduce students to Jeffrey’s children’s fiction series, with interactive games and readings. The Kofi series is aimed at 9- to 13-year-olds (and all adults nostalgic for the 90s!) but this session is fun for all ages.

Contact us to discuss

  • "You were at my school this morning speaking about racism and other forms of discrimination. I really enjoyed the talk and came away considering everything you had said carefully, but I wanted to reach out to you personally to sincerely thank you for your section on challenging homophobia...and making LGBTQ+ voices like mine feel heard, valid, and protected."

    Y7 student, school in Yorkshire

  • "We have never known students – and staff – from such a wide range of backgrounds speak so highly of an external speaker. The response has been overwhelmingly positive, and it’s clear that Jeffrey made a lasting impression. In fact, the buzz hasn’t stopped since he left. Students from year groups he hasn’t spoken to yet have been asking when they’ll get the chance to see him – a clear sign of just how powerful and meaningful his sessions have been. His ability to engage with all ages, and to deliver his message with such impact, is genuinely exceptional. We are so excited to welcome Jeffrey back"

    Maria Stead, Headteacher, St Mary’s College

  • “My thanks to Jeffrey for his brilliant session with our children yesterday. They were all on a such a high afterwards and I know that lots of them (including the teachers!) left the session feeling inspired and empowered.”

    Danae Gardner, Assistant Headteacher, Halfway Houses Primary School

  • "Jeffreys session this morning was excellent, very relevant for our students but also in the current climate. For us as a form its made us think about our labels and how they give a power but also the labels others have and how often these are marginalised and not celebrated in the same way. As a result of this we are going to plan form celebration activities for Diwali and Chinese New Year. We value what Jeffrey said and the experiences he shared."

    Lexie, Y11 tutor, The Grange School

  • “Staff, teachers, children alike were blown away by Jeffrey - he covered so many controversial topics in such a brilliant way and so exactly pitched for the audience.”

    Teacher at Hillingdon Libraries event

  • "I have talked to lots of Y10 students this morning and the overwhelmingly positive response has been wonderful. They LOVED him! Many students asked if we could invite him back to school! They really appreciated that he didn't talk down to them, he engaged them on issues that are relevant to them and his presentation was fun and engaging."

    Donna Rueth, LRC Manager, Reading Tutor, Lady Lumley’s Academy

  • “I can confidently say you were a huge hit with both students and staff. I taught Y9 this afternoon and I asked them what they thought and they all said you were amazing and they asked me to please get you to come and teach in our school. Thank you also for the way you took time to speak to our younger students too, it meant a lot.”

    Connie Marquez-Godoy, Head of Year 9, Nottingham High School

Previous, recorded student events

We do not record student sessions or talks as a matter of course. However, if they have been recorded and are publicly available they are listed here.

BookTrust Represents Virtual Author Event with Jeffrey Boakye, a Musical Truth event for Years 5 and 6, 4 November 2022

Musical Truth with Jeffrey Boakye, Bradford Literature Festival, June 2021