By Miss Silvester, Head of English 

Book Week 2023 (27th Feb – 3rd March)

It is a truth universally acknowledged that reading is important. As well as the practicality of being literate and communicating with those around us, countless research papers identify ways in which reading on a regular basis contributes to an improvement in academic performance, cognitive development and overall wellbeing of individuals. In an era of social media dominating spare time more than many of us would care to admit, however, it can be difficult to find the time to escape into a book. 

Ironically, ‘having time to read’ was an area that a world-pausing pandemic made some steps to rectify. At the start of lockdown in March 2020, levels of reading nationally reached its second highest point ever recorded by the National Literacy Trust in their annual survey. Over 200 million print books were sold in that year alone, and UK publisher sales saw a 2% increase from their 2019 data. Footnote However, the gains made during the early stage of the pandemic had completely eroded by 2022; less than half of children aged 8 to 18 say that they enjoy reading, and fewer than three in ten children said that they read on a daily basis. Footnote

As is so often the case, students at NHEHS buck the trend of a national downward decline in reading. Book clubs are well attended, and both English Language and English Literature continue to be popular choices for A Level. It is important, however, to not be complacent and make assumptions about students’ engagement with reading in their own time. This is, in part, what inspired the English Department to choose this year’s Book Week theme as “Back to Books: We Are All Readers”. Throughout Book Week, there will be opportunities to give our students the time and space to rekindle their love of reading. Part of this is achieved through hearing from our visiting authors, Lisa Williamson and Sarah Crossan, who will be sharing their experiences and discussing their writing process. But why stop there? One initiative is “Stop Drop Read”, where a bell will sound and the entire school will pause what they are doing to spend 15 valuable minutes with a book of their choosing. This coupled with Tech-Free Friday, will allow students a moment away from the temptation of screens. This is not to reject technology entirely – in 2023, would that even be a realistic prospect? – but rather about finding a balance that works for the individual and remembering to take the time to trust in books. We also see wonderful creativity from some of our younger students, who are given a brief to create an object of their choice as part of a “Gallery of Creations” in the atrium, whilst our older students will have the space to read with cups of tea in the Sixth Form Centre.

The global notion of all being readers does also tie in with the charity drive that forms a central part of Book Week at NHEHS. Every year, we raise money for Book Aid International, an organisation whose mission is to “give people around the world who lack access to books the opportunity to read for pleasure, study and lifelong learning” (Footnote). This is raised through donations made for some of the fun annual traditions of Book Week, such as the staff Quidditch match and Fancy Dress Challenge on World Book Day itself. All donations are gratefully received and can be made through our JustGiving page 

Reading for pleasure matters. In Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, Mr Darcy states that, in addition to a wide range of feminine accomplishments, a woman “must yet add something more substantial in the improvement of her mind by extensive reading.” Although in 1813 this was more a satirical statement by Austen about the male expectations of women than about literary engagement – Elizabeth, after all, follows this statement with the quip “I am no longer surprised at your knowing only six accomplished women. I rather wonder now at your knowing any” – it is important to reflect how over 200 years later there continues to be an appreciation of the importance of books in an ever changing world.