A highlight of the celebrations was a special visit to Crystal Peaks Library, where pupils were welcomed by library staff, given a tour of the facilities and supported to sign up for their own library cards. The visit ensures students can access a wide range of books and resources within their local community, encouraging reading beyond the classroom.
Back at school, staff embraced the spirit of World Book Day by dressing as their favourite literary characters and sharing the books that have influenced their own reading journeys. Pupils took part in a World Book Day quiz, book recommendation sessions and discussions about new authors and genres, creating a vibrant, shared celebration of reading across the school.
The activities form part of The Birley Academy’s wider commitment to embedding literacy across the curriculum. Year 10 pupils play an important role in this approach by acting as reading mentors, supporting younger pupils to build confidence, improve fluency and develop a strong culture of peer support. This is complemented by dedicated form time reading sessions held twice a week, where pupils are read to by a member of staff and explore a wide range of texts to broaden students’ perspectives.
These initiatives sit within the school’s wider Starling Vocabulary programme, which is being rolled out across a number of academies within the Trust. The initiative strengthens pupils’ academic vocabulary, enabling them to access challenging texts, articulate their ideas with confidence and fully engage with their learning. This week’s celebrations highlight the Trust’s commitment to placing reading at the heart of the curriculum and recognising the powerful role literacy plays in unlocking opportunity and raising aspirations for every pupil.
“World Book Day is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate reading as a whole school community and to remind our pupils of the opportunities that strong literacy skills can unlock. From mentoring sessions through Starling Reading to exploring new authors and genres, the celebrations have sparked genuine conversations about books across the school.”
“Reading and vocabulary are fundamental to success in school and beyond. World Book Day gives us a fantastic opportunity to celebrate books and inspire our pupils to discover stories and authors that excite and challenge them. Through programmes such as Starling, we are ensuring that every pupil develops the literacy skills they need to thrive.”
