Hogwarts Comes to Bromsgrove Preparatory School

12 Jul 2017

Twenty years ago a book was published. A book that started a series that would delight and inspire millions of children, and adults, around the world. That book was Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.

On Tuesday 20th June 2017, Bromsgrove Preparatory School marked this anniversary by turning the School into Hogwarts for the day and everyone joined in.

The day started off with a procession of costumes which saw pupils dressed as favourite characters. There were many Harrys and Hermiones, but also present were Albus Dumbledore, Gilderoy Lockhart, Ollivander, Sybill Trelawney, Delores Umbridge, a handful of Dobbys, Winkys and Malfoys, dementors, Hedwig, a unicorn and Moaning Myrtle…the list went on. The dressing up did not stop at the pupils, as the teaching staff also got into the spirit. Not only did they dress up as various professors and other characters, but gave their lessons magical twists; Science became Potions, with pupils making fire paper and bubbling concoctions, Maths ran times table duels, many wands were made in Art and Design Technology, Quidditch came to our fields in PE…even Platform 9 ¾ appeared outside the English department.

The catering staff did the Hogwarts kitchens proud by presenting a feast fit for Harry himself. Lunch began with the gamble of tasting a Bertie Bott’s Every Flavour Bean which had been hidden under our cups. Unfortunately for some, dirt, vomit and earwax were all found alongside cinnamon, apple and strawberry. Each table was set with a candelabra and the food appropriately labelled with worms and hippogriff eggs being some of the treats on offer.

Strange things happened in the Library too, with a ‘Restricted Section’ appearing and new categories labelling our bookshelves. Madame Pince had been in contact with Mrs Talbot prior to our day and we held a book cover competition for a new entry for the Hogwarts Library. The winners and runners-up were delighted with their special anniversary edition books.

Despite the unusually hot weather, the costumes, and high spirits, held up all day.