Access Update: Primary Literacy Day

This exciting new Access initiative ran in conjunction with the official reopening of St John’s Historic Libraries and Canterbury Quadrangle. It was designed to give pupils in Years 5 and 6 the opportunity to explore the renovated libraries and participate in three brand-new literacy workshops run by the Access Team.

Throughout the day, the pupils learned about different styles of reading, writing, and communicating from around the world, and over time. From designing medieval illuminated letters, to acting out part of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit, to solving hieroglyphic puzzles, pupils demonstrated their great enthusiasm and motivation.

The Catering Team provided a fantastic buffet lunch at St Giles House, where the pupils enjoyed the grand architecture, imagining that they might be having lunch in ‘Batman’s House’, or living as royalty for the day! With sunny weather on our side, the garden at St Giles house became an ideal spot for outdoor playtime.

The pupils also took part in a ‘Create a Story’ competition, themed around one of the library’s most fascinating artefacts: the sixteenth-century iron chest belonging to St John’s Founder, Sir Thomas White. A teacher from Windale described how pupils ‘were so motivated to write about [Sir Thomas’s chest], and the build-up to seeing it made [the day] really special for them”.

Professor Lady Sue Black, College President, along with special guest Professor Robert Darnton, awarded book tokens to the pupils with the most imaginative stories. All participants received a book and a goodie bag to take away.

It was a joy to work with Windale, and we are looking forward to welcoming their Year 2 class for a workshop and lunch later this term. We hope that this will be the first of many Primary Literacy Days to come!