New Rush Hall School came alive with stories, creativity and imagination during this year’s World Book Week. The week was designed to celebrate reading, give pupils access to books, and show that reading can be both enjoyable and inspiring.
A key highlight of the week was the Scholastic Book Fair, which was available in school for pupils to explore. Primary pupils were able to choose two books completely free of charge, while secondary pupils selected one book and were given the opportunity to earn more through their participation during the week. This ensured that every pupil had access to books while also encouraging them to continue reading beyond the event.
Pupils across the school also had the opportunity to hear from visiting authors, who delivered engaging sessions to both primary and secondary classes. These talks gave pupils an insight into the world of writing and storytelling and helped bring books to life in a meaningful way.
In Primary, the week was packed with creative activities that explored different aspects of storytelling. Pupils took part in mystery book predictions, designed their own story settings, stepped into character through hot seating and created storyboards of key scenes. The week ended with a fun whole school challenge where pupils searched for hidden pictures of the Headteacher in the “Where’s Mr Walters” activity. To finish the celebrations, pupils came into school dressed as their favourite book characters, with staff supporting those who needed help creating costumes so that everyone could take part.
In Secondary, pupils also explored reading in a range of engaging ways. Year 7 pupils created comic strips, Year 8 wrote reflective pieces and Year 9 took part in immersive fantasy storytelling. Year 10 and Year 11 pupils designed their own book covers, combining creativity with an understanding of how books are presented to an audience.
Alongside these activities, secondary pupils took part in the ‘Choose to Read’ challenge. Pupils earned points for reading and for writing about what they had read, which they could then exchange for additional books. This encouraged pupils to keep reading throughout the week and gave them a real sense of achievement.
World Book Week at New Rush Hall was a fantastic success. Pupils were enthusiastic, creative and fully engaged in the activities, showing that when given the right opportunities, reading can be something they genuinely enjoy.
By putting books directly into pupils’ hands and creating a week full of fun and meaningful experiences, the school continues to promote a love of reading and ensure that every pupil has the chance to discover the joy of a good story.