Pupils at a York school could be the next Anthony Minghella or Lynda La Plante thanks to Read-Write-York, City of York Council's new literature development project.

Students at Lowfield School are being encouraged to improve their literacy skills by writing for the screen, in an eight-week programme starting on Tuesday, January 14, 2003.

The programme has been designed by the York-based writer and college lecturer, James Rose. The aim is to increase the students understanding of film and to encourage them to think about the creative process of writing for the screen. The course will be led by James and will be based between Lowfield School, City Screen and York Central Library.

Students will look at a range of films from Hollywood blockbusters to foreign language screenplays. They will then be given the opportunity to put pen to paper, writing their own scene for a film with the aid of a special screenplay writing computer programme.

Michelle Cross, teacher of English at Lowfield School, is delighted that some of her Year 10 students will be taking part in the scheme.

She said: "This exciting new project will offer a valuable opportunity for students to improve the necessary skills to help with their GCSE Media coursework. It will also give the students the opportunity to learn about creative writing outside the regular school environment."

David Cooper, literature development officer, City of York Council, said: "The project will act as a pilot for a more widespread programme of work across the city. It will help to develop the students' visual literacy and I hope that when they next watch a film, it will encourage them to think about the creative process that started with someone putting pen to paper."