“This week’s ‘Festival of Reading’ was memorably introduced by our Head of English, Dr Gabelman, in the Cathedral on Monday. His hope for the week was that we would all ‘rekindle or further fuel our reading. Because reading can reveal more to us than any parent or teacher or friend; it can resurrect the greatest storytellers and philosophers and mathematicians and spiritual guides in history; it can revolutionise our lives and those around us, but only if we regularly practice this wizardry called reading’.

“We have also been privileged to host the author, Natasha Bowen, who spoke to Year 10, and the academic, Dr Mathelinda Nabugodi, who delivered the Bowman Lecture to the Sixth Form yesterday. Mrs Thomas continued the theme in this morning’s Cathedral Service, reinforcing the power of reading with reference to the Hay Festival, Hilary Clinton, and author, Huma Abedin.

“There is significant scholarly research that suggests a strong correlation between academic outcomes and reading. It remains as important as ever to encourage our children to spend a little more time reading.

“With my best wishes for the weekend.”

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