World Book Day brings storytelling to life

On Thursday 5th March, our Prep Department came alive as we celebrated World Book Day – a reminder of the transformative power of reading. This much-loved annual event is always a highlight of the spring term and this year promised to be especially exciting, with activities spanning every year group and a strong focus on sharing the joy and importance of reading.

We were delighted to welcome Paul Pickford, a talented local artist, who led creative workshops throughout the day for pupils in Reception to Prep VI. Using a mystery object as inspiration, each class used their collaborative powers to build a story piece by piece. As the day progressed, every class contributed to the narrative, through the development of characters, plot twists and imaginative settings. Paul worked alongside the pupils to transform their ideas into illustrations, modelling how words can be brought vividly to life through art.

Pupils in EYFS and Prep celebrated by coming to school in pyjamas, creating a cosy atmosphere perfect for sharing stories. Throughout the day, teachers shared their favourite books and classes enjoyed a range of reading activities.

As a further part of our celebrations, we also invited families to donate pre-loved books which are to be gifted to The Children’s Book Project, supporting schools and organisations across the UK where children have limited access to books. This initiative helped our pupils understand that reading is not only a pleasure, but also a privilege that can and should be shared.

Finally, in support of the national 2026 Year of Reading, we encouraged families to make time to read together at home. The importance of sharing a book – whether it is a bedtime story, a favourite childhood classic, or a newly discovered adventure – cannot be underestimated. After all, within the pages of a book anything is possible…

Pupils' experiences are enriched by an extensive range of visits and extra-curricular activities, locally, regionally and internationally.


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