World Book Day: Celebrating Reading for Pleasure

As part of our World Book Day celebrations, Sixth Form pupils studying English attended an immersive Gothic event in which they had to use their knowledge of the Gothic to unravel a mystery… Set in 1886 at Caterham School, Basil Hallward, a sensitive and talented pupil has gone missing. The eclectic staff must be interviewed by the leading investigators of the day, from Sherlock Holmes to Katherine Morland, to discover what has happened to Basil.

The pupils threw themselves into the event – matched only by staff who inhabited their characters with brilliant panache – interrogating staff, donning Victorian dress and taking assiduous notes that would have made Dr Watson proud. The teams able to unravel the mystery were allowed to enter the Bloody Dome to test their theories, leading to excited, bloodcurdling shrieks. The event ended with Ms Wildsmith giving a paper inspired by the storyline on the nature of the Gothic, considering it through a socio-economic lens. All in all, a frighteningly fabulous evening. 

Across the school pupils and staff took part in a variety of activities.  Lots of pupils visited the immersive Gothic installation in the Library, taking the opportunity to read by torchlight in the wind and rain.  There were some fantastic book costumes on display all linked to a book of choice. The whole school fell silent for 20 minutes at 2.00pm as staff and pupils stopped what they were doing to Drop Everything and Read.  It was a wonderful day to celebrate reading for pleasure.

We sign off a fabulous World Book Day 2024 with our first (of a new weekly series) book recommendation:

Charlie B, 1W: ‘Skandar and the Unicorn Thief’ – A. F. Steadman

Great book, easy to read. Fun and interesting backstory with a brilliant sequel. Very imaginative.