It’s World Book Day today, and we’re reminded just how important it is to foster a love of reading in our pupils and help them to find the stories they will cherish forever. 

Pupils and staff from across our schools have been busy celebrating by dressing up as their favourite book characters. We’re so pleased to see everyone getting involved in such a special day for school children across the country. 

We asked the heads of our schools about the books they enjoyed as children and why…

Simon Harrison, Crofton School: “Mythago Wood by Robert Holdstock. I read this when I was 14, and remember being gripped by how it blended history and myth with real life. I’d never read anything like it, and it led me into a lifetime of enjoying Fantasy and Historical novels.”

Tony Head, Portswood Primary School: “My favourite book as a very young child was The Tiger That Came To Tea by Judith Kerr. It was the first book that I can remember my parents reading to me at bed time 50 years ago, and it has been one that I have enjoyed reading to my children and now grandchildren 50 years later.”

Ingrid Dowse, Tanners Brook Primary School: “I must have read so many Enid Blyton books as a child - especially the Malory Towers series.  I used to imagine what it would be like to go to a boarding school and have such exciting adventures!  They really fired up my imagination and led to my lifelong love of reading.”

Caroline Lowing, Thornden School: “My favourite book was Alice in Wonderland because it was so otherworldly!”

Find out more about World Book Day here: https://www.worldbookday.com/