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For many years, students have come to school dressed as their favorite book characters on World Book Day. This year, however, Hogarth Elementary School in Essex transformed into a magical Hogwarts-like environment, inspired by the Harry Potter series. For just one day, students were sorted into one of four Hogwarts houses, while teachers swapped their formal titles for that of professors. Traditional subjects like English and math were replaced with classes in Quidditch and potion-making.
Samuel, a student, expressed his excitement, saying, "I thought it was really exciting… I think everyone really enjoyed it."
The school’s classrooms were adorned with wands and witch hats, as both staff and students embraced the Harry Potter theme for the school’s inaugural themed World Book Day. Deputy Principal Lauren King remarked on the unique opportunity of being named Hogarth, wearing a gown and green cloak reminiscent of Professor McGonagall.
Mrs. King mentioned that the school spent less than £50 to transform the venue into a fictional castle, with teachers and parents contributing props from home. This effort made it easy for children to participate without a significant financial burden. "Many kids dress as witches for Halloween, and if they just wear a T-shirt that represents their house, that’s perfectly okay," she added.
The school’s hall was redecorated to resemble the Great Hall at Hogwarts, with the teachers portraying Albus Dumbledore during the morning assembly on a student-facing stage.
Bobby, a 10-year-old, described the day as "the best day" and said it was "so much fun." Sixth grader Suela enjoyed acting out mythical creatures with her classmates, prompting her to watch the Harry Potter films that day. Fifth grader Nils, a fan of the franchise, highlighted that his favorite part of the celebration was modeling imaginary creatures with clay.
