A Literary Celebration 2026: World Book Day at Wallace High School

The corridors of The Wallace High School were transformed into a vibrant landscape of stories and imagination as the school community gathered to celebrate World Book Day. From the youngest pupils in Pre-Prep to senior mentors, the day was a gateway to new worlds.

A Week of Inspiration

The celebration began well before Thursday. Jessica (Year 13) took a leadership role by conducting assemblies every morning, highlighting the lifelong value of reading to the entire student body. The school’s commitment to literacy also extended to philanthropy; on Monday, the school welcomed Rebecca from the Cancer Fund for Children. During her visit, the school community proudly presented a cheque for £8,500, raised through the recent “Read On” event.

World Book Day Special Guests and Storytelling

The highlight of the festivities was a visit from Gyasi Sheppy, the beloved CBeebies presenter and author.

Gyasi delighted our Pre-Prep and P1 pupils with an engaging reading from his book, captivating young listeners and encouraging them to embrace their own unique interests. His warm storytelling style and enthusiasm for creativity left the children inspired and eager to explore their imaginations further.

Beyond his work with our youngest learners, Gyasi also visited the GCSE Drama class, where he offered valuable insights into the wide range of careers within the creative industries. His visit continued in the library, where he joined pupils for the Great Wallace Book Swap, a lively event that saw students exchanging much-loved books for new literary adventures. His presence added excitement to the occasion and helped foster a shared love of reading across the school community.

Mentorship and Creativity

The spirit of “sharing a story” was felt across the school.

Sixth Year pupils took on the role of reading mentors, visiting the Pre-Prep to share stories with the youngest members of the school. The younger pupils, dressed in full costume to celebrate the occasion, were delighted by the chance to read alongside the senior students, creating a joyful and supportive atmosphere.

During pastoral periods, Year 8 pupils worked with their class tutors to decorate classroom doors in celebration of their favourite books. The vibrant designs transformed the hallways into a lively literary gallery and marked the culmination of the work they have been doing in their weekly Reading for Pleasure classes.

Meanwhile, Year 9 students created podcasts in which they interviewed staff about their favourite books. Adding to the fun, English teachers arrived in costume and challenged students to guess their literary identities, bringing an element of mystery and playfulness to the day’s activities.

A Word from the English Department

Reflecting on the week, Head of English, Gillian Weir, shared her pride in the school’s heritage and effort:

“What a lovely week it has been! Pupils have embraced our challenges, echoing the National Year of Reading to ‘Go All In’. As a school community, we value reading and are always keen to follow in the footsteps of our founder, Sir Richard Wallace, who was so altruistic in Lisburn and beyond. Our continued support of Cancer Fund for Children is a source of great pride. It was wonderful to have Gyasi join us and to see our entire school community work together.

Thanks go to the English Department for their enthusiasm in celebrating this special day, as well as our LSAs. We will continue to embrace the challenge of this National Year of Reading — to echo Victor Hugo, To learn to read is to light a fire; every syllable that is spelled out is a spark.”

You can keep up to date with all the latest news at Wallace via http://www.instagram.com/wallacehighlisburn

You can read all about more recent opportunities from the English Department via the link below:

2026 Success in Prestigious BPW Public Speaking Northern Ireland Final