World Book Day celebrated across Bishop Wilkinson Trust
The celebrations aimed to inspire a love of reading among students of all ages.
The event was part of the Trust’s ‘Between the Pages’ initiative, which builds on the success of last year’s celebrations.
Students from up to 48 schools engaged with 12 renowned authors, including both national and writers from the region whose works are part of the curriculum.
The trust encouraged schools to share their experiences on social media, further amplifying the celebration of World Book Day.
The event was live-streamed on the trust’s YouTube channel, allowing schools to join a continuous broadcast from 9am to 3.30pm.
This meant schools could participate in a full day of events or access recordings later, ensuring maximum participation.
The entire event was hosted by Mr Martin Gray, a primary headteacher from St Matthewβs in Prudhoe.
The day was inspired by the Trust’s bespoke English curriculum, written by expert staff across Bishop Wilkinson schools.
The texts currently being read by children in the curriculum were featured throughout the day.
Notable contributors included Mitch Johnson, author of ‘Kick’, studied in Year 6, and Barbara Henderson, writer of ‘The Chessmen Thief’, studied in Year 5.
Students submitted pre-selected questions, and Johnson unveiled exclusive details about his upcoming book during his session.
A highlight of the event was a live session with Robert Tregoning, a former pupil of St Bedeβs Catholic Sixth Form College, Lanchester, who shared insights into his writing journey alongside his illustrator, Stef Murphy.
Interactive sessions were a key feature of the day, with younger students enjoying a draw-along workshop with Nick Sharratt, acclaimed illustrator of ‘Shark in the Park’ and ‘You Choose’.
In addition, Joanna Nadin, returning for a third year, and local author Ross Welford captivated students with live discussions on his beloved series, ‘The Worst Class in the World’ and ‘The Time Travelling Tortoise’.
Nick Hurn, CEO of BWCET, said: “World Book Day is an important celebration across our Trust, fostering a deep love of reading and storytelling.
“Seeing our students engage with inspiring authors and illustrators is incredibly rewarding, and we are proud to support and nurture their passion for literature.”