READING NEWSLETTER
Issue No. 19 Easter 2026
Welcome to the Easter edition of our Reading Newsletter. At the end of a successful Epiphany Term, we take this opportunity to reflect on the reading journey across the school. This edition is filled with reasons to celebrate: from our second annual reading festival, achievements on Sparx Reader to a selection of reading recommendations for the Easter break. As always, we are delighted to share contributions from both staff and pupils, highlighting the flourishing reading culture at St Cuthbert’s and the joy that reading brings to our community.
Reading Takes Centre Stage Our second annual Reading Festival was a vibrant celebration, with the school transformed into a bustling literary landscape. Across the week, pupils journeyed through a rich programme of events, from thrilling escape rooms in the library to lively Book Bistro sessions serving up subject-specific reading delights. Like festivalgoers moving from stage to stage, pupils immersed themselves in stories, quizzes, and challenges, building excitement towards the headline act: World Book Day on Thursday 5th March. Author Bali Rai’s inspiring presence and Dan Smith’s enthusiastic presentation brought star power to the occasion, while staff costumes added colour and creativity to the day. With a wholeweek scavenger hunt running alongside the festivities, there was something for every reader to discover. This year’s festival truly struck a chord, leaving a lasting buzz and a deeper love of reading across the school.
Sparx Super Stars! A huge congratulations to 7H1 for a tremendous term. Collectively, 7H1 read 261,620 SRP, which translates to hours of 436 hours of reading!