Thursday 18 September was a special day at Jack Hunt Academy as we welcomed acclaimed spoken word artist and author Steven Camden – better known as Polarbear.

Steven is known for his interactive sessions that work just as well with whole-school assemblies as they do in small, focused workshops. Drawing on his background as a performer, as well as his published novels and poems, Steven shares his “messy process” of creating stories to help young people unlock their own creativity and remove the pressures that can hold back ideas. His workshops often involve world-building, drawing on personal experiences, and jumping straight into creating poems, stories, and writing “soaked in ourselves.”

During Period 5, Steven ran a lively workshop in the library with a group of Key Stage 3 students. The fast-paced session was filled with collaboration, improvisation, and imagination, as students built characters, developed worlds, and shared their own creative voices.

At lunchtime, students had the opportunity to meet Steven more informally, asking questions about his journey as a writer and performer, and learning more about the ways he creates his work.

The day concluded with a whole-school assembly in the main hall, where Steven performed spoken word pieces and reflected on resilience, creativity, and the transformative power of stories. The atmosphere was electric, leaving many students inspired and motivated to try their own creative writing.

You can check out his website here - Bear Stories

Some of Stevens novels are below-

YOUNG ADULT STORIES (12+)