War Horse Author Among Ashville College World Book Day highlights

Published by Ashville College on Monday 6th of March 2023

Pupils from Harrogate’s Ashville College have started World Book Day (Thursday, March 2) attending an online assembly led by War Horse author Sir Michael Morpurgo.

The theme for this year’s day is ‘Read….so you never feel alone’, and the best-selling writer told Year 3 to 6 pupils, and pupils in other schools nationwide, about some of the books he has written and his love of the written word.

This was one of the highlights of a week’s worth of activities held across the whole School celebrating the importance of books, with most key events happening on World Book Day itself.

At the same time as the former Children’s Laureate was inspiring the older Prep School year groups, a local author led a story time session for those in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2.

Many Prep School children – and staff members - arrived at school dressed as their favourite literary characters, which included The Three Little Pigs, Biggles, Lawrence of Arabia, Mary Poppins and Sherlock Holmes, Queen Cleopatra, Willy Wonka and Hagrid, and added to the fun and excitement of the day. There were ‘buddy reading’ sessions for pupils in Acorns through to Year 6, where older Prep School pupils read stories to the younger ones.

World Book Day was marked by Ashville Senior School and Sixth Form too, with events including competitions to write a book review and to design an image for the national World Book Day token, as well as general discussions in form time and teachers’ posters on what book has inspired them and why.

Ashville Prep School hosted an Usborne Book Fair, where children were able to purchase books with the money raised going to support new books for the Prep School library. There were a wide range of titles available, including books linked with the topics children are currently studying.

Ahead of World Book Day, Ashville Prep School has been running a ‘Read for Good’ Readathon fundraiser, during which the children have chosen whatever they like to read – be it comics, classics or blogs – whilst raising money to get books to children in hospital, as well as books for their school.

This Monday, every pupil was invited to choose a free World Book Day book, whilst yesterday the school hosted a ‘Drop Everything and Read’ session.

Rhiannon Wilkinson, Head of Ashville College, said:

“World Book Day is a diary date enjoyed by pupils and staff alike, and it’s been heartening to see that activities haven’t just been limited to the one day.

“I have always believed that reading is fundamental to academic success. Reading helps instil intellectual curiosity and a love of learning in children from a young age; events like this remind older pupils that reading is something to be enjoyed for life and it can only ever support their attainment as they progress through School.”

Asa Firth, Head of Ashville Prep School, said:

“At Ashville Prep School we don’t celebrate books just one day of the year – for us it’s every day, and we don’t make it a chore. Literacy is one of the cornerstones of a child’s education, and its importance can’t be stressed enough.”