Bromley High School celebrated the joy of reading with a vibrant programme of activities across both the Junior and Senior Schools during Book Week. From author visits and creative competitions to lectures and community initiatives, the week provided pupils of all ages with inspiring opportunities to engage with literature in new and exciting ways.
Inspiring Author Visits
Pupils in both the Junior and Senior Schools were delighted to welcome visiting authors as part of the celebrations.
Year 8 and Year 9 pupils met award-winning young adult author Manjeet Mann, who spoke about the inspiration behind her latest novel Roar. During the session, Manjeet captivated her audience with discussions around themes of women’s rights and social justice. Pupils were encouraged to reflect on the power of their own voices, even creating their own empowering “ROAR pledges”.
Earlier in the week, Junior School pupils in Years 5 and 6 enjoyed a visit from acclaimed children’s author Judith Eagle, known for her atmospheric mystery adventures such as The Secret Starling and The Accidental Stowaway. Judith spoke about the craft of storytelling and the importance of imagination, inspiring pupils to explore their own creative ideas and appreciate the excitement of a well-paced story.
Creativity Through Performance & Film
Senior School pupils also explored literature through creative performance and media.
Earlier in the term, Year 9 pupils produced their own book trailers—short, spoiler-free retellings of literary classics including Alice in Wonderland and Watership Down. Each class selected their favourite entry, with the final winner announced during Book Week celebrations. Congratulations go to Isra, Jessica and Hanna for their atmospheric and suspenseful interpretation of Susan Hill’s modern gothic classic The Woman in Black.
Year 10 pupils took to the stage for the annual Poetry Slam Competition, held in the Assembly Hall on Tuesday 3 March. Competing groups delivered memorised performances from the GCSE poetry anthology, showcasing both creativity and confidence. Congratulations to Bella, Ayla and Kaya, whose performance of Carol Ann Duffy’s War Photographer impressed the judges with its insight and dramatic delivery.
“Performing the poems gave us a fresh perspective, since performing it from the point of view of the speaker allowed us to experience the poems themselves and engage with them more effectively. The performance aspect made us consider the desired impact on the audience and the overall message of each poem, and working in groups was fun and helpful as we collaborated well.”Ayla, Year 10 pupil
Academic Enrichment in the Sixth Form
Book Week also offered opportunities for deeper academic exploration. Sixth Form English Literature students attended a lecture by Dr Diana Hallam, who examined the thematic connections between Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale. The lecture provided thought-provoking insight into the political and social contexts that shaped these influential works.
A Literary Feast
To mark World Book Day, the dining hall hosted a themed menu inspired by the colours and creativity of literature. Pupils enjoyed a vibrant selection of dishes celebrating the joy of storytelling through food. Special thanks go to Riva V. and Maria C., who created beautiful artwork to accompany each course on the menu.
Celebrating Reading Together
Across the Junior School, pupils also enjoyed a variety of activities designed to nurture a love of reading, including daily Drop Everything and Read sessions, a lively Book Week quiz, and a World Book Day costume parade.
The week demonstrated how stories can inspire imagination, creativity and connection across the entire school community.
Book Week once again highlighted the central role that reading plays at Bromley High School — encouraging pupils to explore new ideas, express themselves confidently, and develop a lifelong love of literature.
