Schools across The Park Academies Trust (TPAT) in Swindon have been celebrating the magic of reading with a range of activities to mark World Book Day.
From poetry slams to costume parades, pupils and staff fully embraced the annual event, which aims to inspire a love of reading among children. Many took the opportunity to dress as their favourite book characters, while others enjoyed creative activities centred around storytelling.
Bridlewood Primary School turned the day into a celebration of spoken word with a poetry slam, where students shared their favourite poems in front of classmates. Over at Kingfisher Primary School, pupils arrived in their pyjamas, adding a cosy twist to their reading sessions.
Red Oaks Primary took this year’s World Book Day theme, “Read Your Way,” to heart. Children dressed as beloved literary figures, crafted bookmarks, and even made their own books based on the stories that inspire them. The day culminated in a school-wide costume parade, with pupils proudly showcasing their imaginative outfits.
Rachel Surch, Director of Primary at TPAT, highlighted the wider benefits of the event: “All the World Book Day activities are a really fun way to share our favourite stories and books. They also encourage a love of reading and literacy, which we all know is vital for future development and attainment across all subjects.”
TPAT CEO, Gemma Piper, praised the enthusiasm shown across the trust: “I’ve been delighted to see the huge variety of ways in which World Book Day has been celebrated. Our staff and students have approached it with creativity and energy, and I’m confident many more pupils will be reading for pleasure as a result of this week’s events.”
World Book Day is an annual charity event held on the first Thursday in March, providing every child in full-time education in the UK and Ireland with a book voucher to encourage reading for enjoyment. Since its UK launch in 1998, it has inspired millions of children to explore new stories and develop a lifelong passion for books.
