World Book Day 2026
Celebrating World Book Day as part of the National Year of Reading
Today, our schools came together to celebrate World Book Day, with pupils and staff taking part in a wide range of activities designed to promote a love of reading. This year’s celebrations also sit within a wider calendar of reading events taking place across the Trust as part of the National Year of Reading, reinforcing our commitment to ensuring that every child develops a lifelong relationship with books.
Throughout the year, BET schools are marking the National Year of Reading through a range of planned activities and celebrations that highlight the importance of reading for pleasure and support the development of strong reading cultures in our schools. World Book Day provides an important moment within this wider programme to bring stories to life and celebrate the joy that reading can bring.
In the lead-up to the day, schools created excitement around books through activities such as book fairs, giving pupils the opportunity to discover new titles, as well as author visits, creative workshops and competitions including designing book covers.
Alongside these events, schools continue their year-round commitment to reading by creating inviting spaces where pupils can enjoy books. From cosy book nooks and outdoor reading areas, used during break times, to well-stocked library spaces, pupils are encouraged to access books and read for pleasure throughout the school day.
Bringing stories to life
World Book Day itself was marked by a range of engaging activities across the Trust. Many pupils and staff embraced the tradition of dressing up as their favourite book characters, bringing well-loved stories to life in imaginative ways, while others chose to mark the day by wearing something they are most comfortable in.
Creative activities also included classroom door displays inspired by book covers, celebrating the wide variety of literature enjoyed by pupils, as well as reading-themed competitions, assembles, quizzes, performances and interactive activities designed to encourage participation and spark curiosity about books.
Popular activities such as ‘Masked Reader’ challenges also returned to several schools, with teachers creating fun games that encourage pupils to engage with new stories.
A Trust-wide commitment to reading
These celebrations form part of the Trust’s wider BET Reads strategy, which continues to strengthen reading provision across all schools. The initiative ensures there is no ‘lottery’ in the quality of reading provision pupils receive, supporting schools to develop strong reading cultures and consistent approaches to reading.
Our five-part approach focuses on strategic leadership of reading, a shared vision for reading culture, collaboration across schools, high-quality resource development and effective assessment with early intervention.
“World Book Day allows us to celebrate the fantastic work that takes place in our schools every day to foster a love of reading,” said Clare Goldsmith, Education Director and BET Reads Lead. “What is particularly powerful is seeing how our schools bring our shared vision for reading to life in ways that reflect their own pupils and communities. The enthusiasm we see during events like this reflects our ongoing commitment to ensuring every pupil leaves our schools as a confident, lifelong reader.”
Why reading matters
The Trust’s work around reading also supports its wider commitment to social justice. Ensuring consistent access to high-quality reading provision helps remove barriers to learning and supports pupils to achieve their full potential.
Research consistently shows that reading for pleasure is one of the strongest indicators of a child’s future success - more significant than family circumstances, parental education or income. However, national data shows that only one in three children now say they enjoy reading, highlighting the importance of initiatives that help reverse this trend.
Through BET Reads, the National Year of Reading, and celebrations such as World Book Day, Bourne Education Trust continues to champion reading as a key part of pupils’ learning, wellbeing and future success.
To learn more about BET Reads, please visit: BET Reads - Bourne Education Trust