PUPILS at Potters Gate School were given the chance to attend the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry last week, in a series of after-school workshops.

The event, part of the school’s activities to tie in with World Book Day, offered students the chance to study herbology and the modern day uses for medicinal plants, wand and potion making, and even a game of Quidditch. The event was made really special, with those who applied for a place receiving their invitations (in green ink of course!) in an envelope with their names written in calligraphy, the letters were individually aged with tea, and the envelopes sealed with purple wax and a Gryffindor seal. They were then suspended by ribbon from white helium filled balloons, each with an owl drawn on it, to give the impression of a special owl delivery.

At the event the children were treated to a reading from one of the books, to illustrate the world of adventure and excitement that can be found in the library. They were then sorted into houses by each biting into a cupcake which had been coloured one of the four house colours. The cupcakes (baked by parents), all had plain white icing, so it was a real lottery as to which house they got! Once the children knew which house they were a part of, they could then run at the wall on platform 9 ¾ to enter the world of Hogwarts and take part in the activities.

There were many different spells to choose from including strength, love, wisdom and luck. Those who made a wand at the event were able to test its magical abilities by saying the magic words ‘Lumino Alterim’ and point it at a lamp which would magically change colour.

Organiser Tris Irvine, who volunteers in the school’s library, said: “We are incredibly lucky to have in our school community a high number of creative and willing individuals, who will unselfishly give their time and love to run very special events such as this one, and an incredibly supportive management team in headteacher Jayne Venables and deputy Carol Trotter, who always enthusiastically support our efforts.

“This was not a fundraising event, simply an idea that I had, when wanting to highlight the library during the World Book Day celebrations. It grew from a basic idea into something really imaginative and fun, thanks to all of the parents who joined in to make it all happen. I have always had a real passion for books – I think I’m basically a librarian without a library!

“So I’ve been working hard this school year to make the library and its books a really exciting and interactive place for the children to visit. Because of the great success of the event some staff and parents at the school have suggested that I should offer it, and other events to other schools, and so a new chapter in my life will now begin, running creative learning events for schools, clubs….anyone who’ll have me really!”

If you’d like to run something similar you can email Tris at [email protected].