Latest News

Who left grandad at the chip shop?

A question which got every child in a primary school wondering – and giggling – their way through World Book Day.

Poet, songwriter and broadcaster Stewart Henderson – author of Who Left Grandad at the Chip Shop poetry book - spent the national themed day at Magna Carta Primary Academy.

His performance poetry captured the attention of all pupils during a special assembly before he spent time in each class inspiring children to write their own poems.

He told them: “When I was your age, I started to read and read and read. I used to go to the local library and that is where I got really enthusiastic about reading and started to write poems.

“One of the things about reading is that it gives you the chance to learn new words. If you learn new words, it means you can express yourself better. The great thing about reading is it will increase your knowledge, not only with language but on how other people are.”

The school used the day to launch a week-long sponsored read in partnership with Usborne Books.

Pupils were sponsored to read as much as they could in a week, raising money to invest in more non-fiction books for their school.

Parents – “secret readers” - popped in throughout the day to surprise children by reading their favourite books to classes.

Instead of the traditional dress-up day, pupils were challenged to decorate a potato as their favourite book character.

Headteacher Marios Solomonides said: “National attendance on World Book Day plummets because of the pressure on deprived families to fund a costume. Deprived children stand out in a school which is not in a deprived area. We are not saying we will never do it, but we are not doing it just because lots of other schools do it.

“Instead, we asked children to decorate a potato. Potatoes are cheap and easily accessible, so every child can take part – those who do not decorate them at home can do them with us at school. The potato can be whoever they want it to be; they can be as creative as they like.

“The day is about promoting reading. Children do not have to get sponsorship for the reading challenge, but simply record their reading habits over the week and see if there is scope to read more often.”