Reflections of an Educational Leader: Celebrating World Book Day

Once a year, the world comes together to celebrate imagination, creativity, and the boundless joy of reading. We call this day World Book Day, and at Avanti Grange, we take it very seriously. In fact, it fills me with the greatest of pleasure to reflect on the sheer exuberance of our celebrations—festivities that didn’t just acknowledge the power of books but actively disrupted the very fabric of our school day. And when I say disruptive, I mean it in the warmest, most wonderful way possible.

First, I must extend my deepest gratitude to Georgia Davies —the newest addition to our English and Drama team—who meticulously planned a day that brought controlled chaos to our corridors and classrooms. One of the most ambitious projects of the day was led by our Year 9 student leaders, who took on the directorial mantle and delivered a full-scale performance of The Tiger Who Came to Tea. Weeks of rehearsals, meticulous planning, and even journeys to local primary schools culminated in a beautiful, joyous celebration of storytelling. Watching these students take ownership of a performance designed to spread the magic of books beyond our own walls was inspiring. And, of course, hearing my own son recount his experience playing the father in the tale made it all the more special!

Yet, even such a grand performance paled in comparison to the sheer fierceness of our guerrilla reading battles. Yes, you read that correctly—guerrilla reading! Georgia Davies, ever the mastermind, encouraged staff to seize their free periods (or, indeed, request cover) to march through the school, unannounced, and burst into classrooms reading from their favourite texts. It was a thing of beauty. For those who know me, it should come as no surprise that I relished this opportunity. Any excuse to stride into a lesson uninvited with a book in hand and a dramatic glint in my eye? Count me in!

Personal highlights included watching students react to an onslaught of rapid-fire readings—one minute, they were entranced by the eerie quacks of a poltergeist duck; the next, they were caught in the deep philosophy of Instapoetry. Then came tales of Pooh, and finally, a moment of sheer theatrical magic: Robert Barker and Matthew Ward delivering The Lord of the Rings with such gusto that I simply had to provide the sound effects for the Horn of Gondor myself. When Gandalf fell into the abyss battling the Balrog, I do believe our students experienced a moment of profound literary grief.

Of course, no such spectacle would be complete without a moment of friendly competition. When a newly-minted ECT took to a chair to read, channeling the spirit of Dead Poets Society, I simply could not resist. I took to a desk. I bellowed forth passages from 21 Lessons for the 21st Century. I declared, in my most stoic and unwavering tone: "Much of what students learn today will likely be irrelevant by 2050." The horrified expressions of my fellow teachers were priceless—followed swiftly by their valiant efforts to justify their lessons. A deliciously thought-provoking moment.

But, dear reader, let us pause and reflect on why I did this—not merely to amuse and inspire (though, I must admit, that was certainly part of the fun). It was a double-edged sword. I wanted to challenge my students to think critically about the knowledge they consume. I wanted my colleagues to contemplate the evolving purpose of education—to question whether we are merely maintaining the status quo or actively preparing students for a world that is shifting before our eyes.

Because while education will change—must change—as the century unfolds, one thing will remain steadfast: the power of reading. In an era where information is curated and filtered by algorithms, where voices are amplified or silenced by unseen digital forces, the ability to read critically is the last bastion of free thought. If we wish to retain any semblance of autonomy in interpreting the world around us, then fostering a deep, thoughtful engagement with books is not just important—it is vital.

And that, dear reader, is why I am proud to work for a school that takes reading beyond the ordinary. At Avanti Grange, we do not just encourage reading—we champion it. We celebrate it. We disrupt for it.

Because books will always matter. And on World Book Day, we made sure everyone knew it.