Hounslow Speed Read Competition

Speed Read 2026

One of our key drives in school is 'read, read, read' - encouraging students to read for pleasure, not for the sake of it. Research shows that children who enjoy reading and read in their own time benefit academically and have better wellbeing than children who do not. We have a thriving library in school, with over 11,000 physical books plus the 1,500 online books available for free via our E-Platform. Some of our keenest readers took part in the Hounslow Speed Read at the start of February. 

Organised by the Hounslow Library Service, representatives from borough schools – including a group of I&S boys – had to talk about their favourite book. The twist? The event’s format was a bit like ‘speed dating’, but with books – students were given just two minutes to explain why they enjoyed their book and attempt to persuade the other student to read it. Huge congratulations to Archie Barker (9Tr, pictured first above with facilitator Tony Dallas), who won the competition with novel ‘Bunker Diary by Kevin Brooks! Afterwards, one student said, “The most valuable thing I learned on the trip was communication and socialising with people you don't know.” In all, it was a fantastic celebration of reading, which fit perfectly with our ‘read, read, read’ culture.