Junior girls at Portsmouth High School took part in The Big Read on Wednesday 22nd April along with two local Children’s authors and the Portsmouth FC mascot who visited the school.

The Big Read is part of Global Action Week organised by the Global Campaign for Education.  GCE promotes access to education as a basic human right and raises public awareness to create the political will for governments and other leaders in the international community to fulfil their promises to provide at least a free, public basic education for all children.

The day kicked off with an assembly where all pupils discovered more about the campaign, understanding the importance of education and learning how throughout the world there are 774 million illiterate adults and 75 million children without an education.

Later in the morning the Pompey Mascot and former players from Pompey in the Community read stories to the girls as part of a group reading session whilst Year 5 and 6 pupils took part in a Shakespeare workshop with Camilla Lipscombe.

Southampton based children’s author, Ali Sparkes, author of the Shapeshifter series visited the school to deliver a reading session and answer the pupil’s questions, as well as sign copies of her books for pupils.  Whilst Sean Beech, the former soldier from Winchester who penned his first children’s novel the Ice Crown while serving in Iraq also worked with pupils from Year 1 upwards. Encourageing the girls to get involved in the process of books, using his own and others to highlight style and genre.

David Lewis, who organised the day and the various activities said. “We are proud to be supporting The Big Read. It is important for the pupils to be involved in this world wide campaign which raises awareness of the millions of children who, unlike them, do not have access to a primary school education. We have been very lucky this year to welcome to school two well known local children's authors together with players from Portsmouth Football Club and a Shakespeare workshop. I have no doubt that the girls will enjoy reading together and also understanding how story tellers develop their ideas and turn them into books”