Pupils at St Mary’s Catholic Primary School in Chippenham enjoyed an inspiring World Book Day after welcoming award-winning children’s author Sophie Kirtley to the school.
Part of the Dunstan Catholic Educational Trust, the school hosted the best-selling writer for a day of creative workshops and reading activities designed to spark imaginations and deepen pupils’ love of books.
Sophie, author of The Wild Way Home, Our Wee Place and Swanfall, worked with children across the school, encouraging them to explore stories, create their own ideas and think about where writing could take them in the future.
The visit reflected St Mary’s strong focus on reading and storytelling. From the earliest years, pupils follow a structured phonics programme to build confidence and fluency, while daily ‘Read for Pleasure’ sessions help children discover books that inspire curiosity, creativity and enjoyment.
The school’s approach to reading was also highlighted by Ofsted inspectors earlier this term. Inspectors noted that reading is a priority at St Mary’s and confirmed that the school had met or exceeded all Ofsted standards, recognising its commitment to education, personal development and wellbeing.
Sophie Kirtley said, “I was delighted to visit the children of St Mary’s School. Meeting young readers and chatting with them about the books they love is always such a joy. Kids have the best imaginations and I just love their infectious enthusiasm for stories.”
Lucy Buckland, headteacher at St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, said, “Reading for pleasure plays a vital role in developing a lifelong love of learning, and at St Mary’s we are passionate about sharing high-quality texts with our children.
“We believe that great books open doors to imagination, creativity and curiosity. This year, we were especially excited to welcome a real author into school for World Book Day. Meeting Sophie in person inspired our pupils and helped them see the magic behind the writing process.”
The celebration gave pupils the chance to experience books in a fresh and memorable way, while reinforcing the school’s belief that reading can open up new worlds for every child.
