High school students from across Sydney, the Illawarra, the Central Coast and the Hunter attended the inaugural Best of the Fest program at the 2016 Sydney Writers' Festival.

This program was a partnership between BOSTES and the Sydney Writers' Festival.

Photo by Prudence Upton

BOSTES President Tom Alegounarias said “The Best of the Fest was specifically designed for Year 9 to 12 students and aimed to introduce them to some of the nation's best writers and thinkers.

“It was great to see so many schools and students benefiting from the program and from the feedback I am sure they will be back next year."

"This event’s aim was to stimulate students' thinking and interests beyond the topics and subjects they study in the classroom, whether it's a performance of Shakespeare's sonnets by Paul Kelly or one of Australia's most respected writers Tom Keneally talking about his passion for history," Mr Alegounarias said.

"Education is an integral part of the cultural fabric of our society, and The Best of the Fest is a way to introduce students to the adult world of ideas as explored each year through the Sydney Writers Festival. It's the same festival writers talking about the same ideas as the broader festival."

Mr Alegounarias said the talks were chosen for their links to the school curriculum, and hoped it would inspire students in their studies as they entered their senior years, and their paths beyond school.