World Book Day
To celebrate World Book Day, staff and students brought some of their favourite fiction to life.
At the Junior School, pupils, teachers and support staff embraced imaginative, literary-themed outfits, with Mrs Paramour (aka The Gruffalo) leading a joyful costume parade in the playground. Older pupils visited younger classes to read their favourite stories together – a wonderful opportunity to connect through a shared love of books. Throughout the week, girls attended workshops with author Keilly Swift and performer/playworker Amber Ogunsanya-William as well as a book fair, hosted by Daunt Books. World Book Day was also the final day of a sponsored readathon, with Junior School readers raising hundreds of pounds to provide books and storytellers for children in hospitals.
In the Senior School, pupils in Years 7 and 8 embraced our ‘living book’ competition, working with their classmates to bring their chosen stories to life and transforming their classrooms into literary scenes. Mrs Paul and our Head Girl Team, who judged the competitions, were taken to Narnia via human wardrobe doors, into Miss Trunchbull’s classroom, down a rabbit hole to visit wonderland, along a yellow brick road, and into Mr Wonka’s factory. Classrooms were adorned with a captivating array of props and decorations as the girls delivered impressive performances, complete with exuberant choreography, song and costumes. Students also organised a book swap; teachers read stories in the library; and students and teachers joined forces for a spirited lunchtime debate about teaching modern vs classic literature. Screenwriter and alumna, Matilda Wnek, returned to share her love of reading at a special assembly led by our Deputy Head Girl (Academic) and Mrs Paul’s feminist book club continued with an exploration of Mary Beard’s Women and Power. Many also embraced the opportunity to dress as their favourite book characters, with the Senior Leadership Team taking inspiration from Lewis Carroll’s much-loved classic…
It was a joy to see our pupils and staff showing such committed teamwork and creativity in channelling their love of reading.