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World Book Day 2025 at Harris Academy Bermondsey has been a day filled with literary-inspired fun, creativity, and a thrilling mystery to solve!

The academy has transformed into a vibrant hub of storytelling and imagination, with students and staff donning costumes as their favourite book characters. As you move around the school, you will spot several Lady Macbeth's, a posse of vampires, Snow White, Inspector Ghoul, and even Wolverine!

Adding an extra layer of excitement, Principal Gizle Landman fully embraced the spirit of the day by dressing as Little Bo Peep—only to discover that her 38 little herd of sheep had gone missing throughout the building! Students eagerly searched high and low, hoping to reunite the flock. Meanwhile, one very special member of the HAB community joined in on the fun—Mabel, the school’s beloved therapy dog, was spotted “reading” a book too!

In addition to the wonderful costumes, students participated in book giveaways, themed competitions, and lively discussions about their favourite stories. The school’s library played a central role in the celebrations, offering a selection of books for students to take home and reinforcing the joy of reading.

The HAB6 council organised their own fundraiser, by selling scented stationary and home-made bookmarks and gave students the chance to win a book of their own in a HAB6 raffle. The council managed to raise £30 which they will put towards the 6^th form prom party by selling scented stationary and home made bookmarks.

World Book Day at HAB is not just a celebration; it’s a chance to bring stories to life, spark creativity, and make reading an exciting adventure. With a strong focus on inclusivity and engagement, the academy ensures that every student has the opportunity to experience the magic of books. A key part of the event is the much-anticipated big  book giveaway in which every student is given a book. This year, the following titles were gifted:

• Year 7: The Soccer Diaries by Tom Palmer
• Year 8: The Wolf Trials by Kiran Millwood Hargrave 
• Year 9: This Story is a Lie by Benjamin Dean
• Year 10: Letter from Birmingham Jail by Martin Luther King Jr.
• Year 11: We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
• Year 12: Africa's Tarnished Name by Chinua Achebe 
• Year 13:  The Master's Tools Will Never Dismantle the Master's House by Audre Lorde

World Book Day at Harris Academy Bermondsey is more than just a celebration of reading—it’s a chance to ignite the imagination, celebrate creativity, and highlight the importance of books in our everyday lives.

Huge thanks to Vidhi for photographing the HAB6 photos today. Many more photos of World Book Day 2025 can be viewed in our image gallery here.