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Book Week at St Andrews brought the community together in a meaningful way, as High School students joined Primary classrooms for a morning of shared reading and language activities. Led by both Language Departments, the experience highlighted the power of cross-age learning and connection.
Year 8 and Year 9 students studying English, Thai, Spanish, French, Japanese, Korean, German, and Mandarin prepared stories and activities to share with Primary School students.
Reading with older peers helps younger children build confidence, feel more relaxed in their learning, and experience what expressive, fluent reading looks and sounds like. Hearing stories told in different voices and languages also enriches their imagination and strengthens comprehension skills.
For High School students, guiding younger learners provided a meaningful opportunity to develop communication skills, practise leadership, and build confidence in using their languages in a real-world context.
Our Language teachers reflected on the powerful impact of peer reading, in which High School and Primary students connect across different languages. These shared experiences not only build confidence in language use but also help students develop a deeper appreciation of different cultures, the diversity of their community, and the world beyond.
French Department
“Our Year 8 and Year 9 students read the French book Le garage de Gustave by Leo Timmers, a story that explores recycling and creativity, with the younger children,” said Ms Hadjer (French Teacher).
After reading and discussing the story in French, the High School students led a creative activity in which Primary learners made self‑portraits using recyclable materials such as cardboard, bottle caps, and paper scraps. This hands-on approach linked language learning with environmental awareness.
Ms Mabell (French Teacher) added, “It was wonderful to see our older students guiding the Primary children through the activity while communicating in French. Experiences like these build confidence and help prepare them for a future where multilingualism is a valuable skill.”
Japanese Department
“Our Year 9 students were excited to read Hogechan to EYFS and Key Stage 1 children,” shared Ms Reiko (Japanese Teacher). “The younger students were captivated by the story of Hoge‑chan and Yu‑chan, which led to thoughtful conversations about caring for the things we love.”
She added, “Older Primary students also listened to a moving fictional story inspired by the Great East Japan Earthquake, highlighting the importance of human connection and the concept of kizuna. Afterwards, students took part in Japanese hand‑play games, which quickly became a favourite and encouraged trust and bonding.”
Language and storytelling have the incredible power to bring people together and strengthen our school community. Seeing students of different ages share stories, communicate across languages, and learn from one another demonstrated how meaningful it is for young learners to practise their skills in a safe, supportive, and joyful environment.