Wellfield Academy celebrates World Book Day with a week of reading fun
Wellfield Academy in Leyland is marking World Book Day with an exciting week-long programme of activities designed to inspire a lifelong love of reading among its students, including a ‘masked reader challenge and a “26 books for 2026 reading challenge”.
The school, which is part of the Endeavour Learning Trust, is hosting celebrations running throughout the week leading up to and including World Book Day on Thursday 5 March.
A highlight is the return of the popular Masked Reader initiative, where staff volunteers are recording short videos of themselves reading from a favourite book. Participants are disguising their voices, hiding their faces, or using props for fun, with students guessing the readers throughout the week before a big reveal.
The week will also see the launch of the “26 Books for 2026” reading challenge, encouraging students to aim for 26 books over the year—a fun, achievable goal to build reading habits and make reading visible and aspirational for all.
Complementing this, staff are invited to take part in a Dress-Up Day. Options range from full costumes to simple accessories, such as a scarf, badge, colour theme, or prop.
Each tutor group is also getting creative with tutor door displays themed around books, with prizes awarded in categories including most creative, best student-led, and best overall.
Further activities include a whole-school book swap on Friday, where students bring in a book to exchange for a new one, helping to circulate more books and spark conversations about reading.
These events build on the school's commitment to fostering a reading culture and align with broader efforts to encourage reading for pleasure among young people.
Jamie Lewis, Headteacher at Wellfield Academy, commented:
“Our World Book Day celebrations at Wellfield Academy are all about making reading joyful, creative, and inclusive for every student.
“From masked readings and dress-up fun to door displays and our new reading challenge, we’re showing that books can bring our community together and spark imagination.”