Pupils across the school immersed themselves in a vibrant celebration of storytelling, creativity and imagination as they took part in this year’s World Book Week. The week-long programme brought books to life through workshops, assemblies, reading activities and the much‑anticipated character parade.
A highlight for younger pupils was the visit from illustrator Bill Greenhead, who led engaging cartoon‑drawing workshops for Pre‑Prep. Children explored how simple shapes can evolve into expressive characters, learning the foundations of visual storytelling. Laughter and concentration filled the room as ideas turned into lively creations on the page.
In Nursery, pupils enjoyed a warm and whimsical story time with Mr Freeman-Day, Head of RGS Prep. His reading of Unicorns Don’t Like Sparkles had the children giggling throughout, especially at the book’s silliest moments.
Throughout the week, pupils eagerly visited the school Book Fair, where colourful displays of stories and fact books inspired wide‑eyed exploration. Children carefully chose books that captured their interests, from magical adventures to gripping mysteries and imaginative picture books.
For pupils in Years 3–6, a visit from children’s author Cathy Faulkner added a spark of creative inspiration. She opened with an assembly about her writing journey, offering insight into the importance of believing in oneself. Pupils then participated in creative writing workshops under the guidance of a published author.
Classrooms across the school were also filled with shared reading sessions and picture book lessons that encouraged pupils to appreciate both narrative and illustration.
World Book Day saw pupils and staff arrive to school as beloved book characters: The Cat in the Hat tipping his iconic striped hat, the Caterpillar from Alice in Wonderland wandering the halls, Sherlock Holmes solving imaginative mysteries between lessons, and countless other literary favourites. The school corridors burst with creativity and book‑inspired excitement.
The celebrations concluded with the annual Speak Out competition, a showcase of confident performances and powerful spoken word. Pupils shone with energetic storytelling, moving poetry recitations, dramatic excerpts from Shakespeare and inspiring biographical speeches. This year, the school was delighted to welcome two special guest judges: Simon Bird, actor, director and former RGS student, and Rob Cann from the Guildford Shakespeare Company. Their thoughtful feedback and encouragement made the event even more memorable for all participants.
World Book Week once again proved to be a joyful celebration of reading.