Keen to promote a reading culture among its students, Saint Paul’s Catholic High School in Wythenshawe launched a Drop Everything and Read Day.
When a bell sounded without warning in the middle of a lesson, the whole school – 870 pupils and around 80 teachers, support staff and kitchen team – had to stop what they were doing and read for 30 minutes.
Youngsters had been told about the whole-school initiative in advance but had no idea when the bell would ring. In the event, it rang in the middle of the second lesson of the day, so youngsters stopped what they were doing in PE, art, maths and other classes, picked up the books they had chosen and read for half an hour.
Pupils brought their own books from home or borrowed titles from the school library. They were allowed to read newspapers and magazines as well as books, but while Kindles were permitted, mobile phones were banned.
“The celebration of reading was designed to remind pupils and staff of all ages to make reading a priority in their lives,” said school librarian Irena Savova, who chose to read City of Bones, the first of Cassandra Clare’s The Mortal Instruments series.
“It is very important to instil in young people a need and desire to read. We want them to make reading a regular part of their routine, whether they are reading solo or together with their classmates, parents or friends.”
Ms Savova, who is helping to plan a second Drop Everything and Read Day with the school’s literacy team, is full of advice for other schools wanting to follow suit.
“It’s important to plan in advance,” she said. “You can’t interrupt assessments or do something like this during a science experiment or a food technology practical.
“Also, it’s vital that all the staff take part. Some read classics like Wuthering Heights while others chose young adult novels that are popular with pupils, like Divergent by Veronica Roth.
“We made it exciting by not telling the pupils exactly when it was going to happen and by giving out prizes. There was a lot of discussion about what everyone was reading and that added to the excitement. We wanted everyone to enjoy the session and for it not to be seen as a chore."