Pupils at St Benedict’s Catholic Primary School in Midsomer Norton marked World Book Day with a lively programme of activities designed to promote reading for pleasure and bring the school community together.
Throughout the day, children took part in partner reading sessions, pairing up with classmates to share stories and recommend favourite books. The initiative encouraged pupils of different ages to read together, helping to build confidence, fluency and a shared enthusiasm for reading.
The school also joined the national BBC World Book Day assembly, connecting pupils with schools across the country in a shared celebration of storytelling and imagination.
A variety of additional activities took place across the school, including a book token design competition and opportunities for staff to share their favourite stories. Pupils were also given the chance to read with younger peers, extending the celebration beyond their own classrooms.
As part of the wider community focus, the school’s well-being champions visited Sunflowers Nursery and Mogg Hill, where they read stories and engaged with younger children.
The celebrations come at a time of national concern around reading for pleasure. According to the National Literacy Trust’s 2025 survey, just 32.7% of children and young people aged 8 to 18 say they enjoy reading in their free time, the lowest level recorded in 20 years, while only 18.7% read daily.
By hosting a range of interactive and inclusive activities, St Benedict’s aimed to show that reading can be social, exciting and central to school life.
Ellen Croker, headteacher at St Benedict’s Catholic Primary School, said, “World Book Day was a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the joy of reading together. Seeing older and younger pupils sharing books, and the excitement created by our many themed activities showed just how powerful stories can be in bringing our community together. We are committed to developing a lifelong love of reading in every child.”
Helen Taylor, CEO of the Dunstan Catholic Educational Trust, added, “It is wonderful to see St Benedict’s Catholic Primary School creating such engaging and inclusive opportunities for children to experience the joy of reading. Activities like partner reading not only build confidence and fluency, they also strengthen relationships and a shared culture of storytelling.
“At a time when national data highlights a decline in reading for pleasure, events like this show the powerful role schools play in inspiring lifelong readers.”
