Ibstock Crimefest 2026

Our month-long literary festival with a murderous theme. Follow #IbstockCrimefest on our Instagram @ibstocksenior.

Whether you're an avid reader or not quite so
keen, there is something for everyone at our
annual book festival. 

Bookfest Loyalty Card

Throughout March get rewarded for reading. Collect a loyalty card bookmark from the Library; get a stamp for every Crimefest activity you join in; claim a sweet for five stamps and a custom pin badge for ten.

Annual School Bookmark Competition

Design the Ibstock Bookmark for 2026. The winning entry will be made into our official bookmark and given to new Senior 7 pupils and anyone else who would like one! Use this template to enter and email your entry to hcleaves@ibstockplaceschool.co.uk or hand in to the librarians.

Download Template

Week 1

Tuesday 3 March

Ibstock TSBA Exhibition

Visit the Ballroom to view the best entries from Senior 7 - 9 in this year's TSBA creative response and book review competitions and find out who are the four Ibstock winners.

Thursday 5 March

World Book Day

Visit the library for reading prescriptions from Ibstock Book Doctors and to collect your free WBD book; enjoy the Jazz Choir special performance at Break and Lunch; shop the pre-loved book sale on the Terrace at Lunch; buy a charity Crimefest cupcake at tuck with proceeds to Coram Beanstalk.

Friday 6 March

National Reading Champions Quiz

Ibstock's top readers will battle it out with the best bookworms in South-West London to represent the region in the national final.

Week 2

	Monday 9 - 13 March Ibstock Traitors Back by popular demand, play this whole school game and use your super sleuthing skills to identify the traitor(s) before it's too late.
	Monday 9 March Lacrosse Taster Have you got what it takes to make the Deepdean Lacrosse Team? Release your inner Daisy by trying her favourite sport.
	Tuesday 10 March Ibstock International Women's Day Come to our Sisters and Allies party in the Ballroom with speeches, a fun quiz, live music, custom badges, henna tattoos and giveaways.
	Tuesday 10 March Carnegie Shortlist Find out which books have made the shortlist for the world’s most prestigious children’s book prize and borrow from the library while stocks last.
	Thursday 12 March Forensics workshop Part 1 Discover the science of crime in this special two-part forensics workshop for Senior 7 and 8.

Week 3

	Monday 16 – Friday 20 March Scholastic Book Fair Stock up for the Great House Read at the Scholastic Book Fair in the Library during library lessons and at Lunch. Click on this link for a preview.
	Tuesday 17 March Crime Writer Visit Award-winning children’s author Sue Wallman will share her thrilling stories and top trade secrets with Senior 7 and 8 pupils.
	Thursday 19 March TSBA Award Ceremony Ibstock's top readers will visit City of London School to meet the shortlisted authors, discover which pupils are prize winners and to find out who has won the TSBA Book Award 2026.
	Thursday 19 March Forensics workshop Part 2 Discover the science of crime in this special two-part forensics workshop for Senior 7 and 8.
	Friday 20 March IWD Any Questions with Fleur Anderson, MP for Putney Come along to P5 at lunch to meet Fleur and get answers to your burning questions.
	Friday 20 March Ibstock Parent Book Club All parents are invited to our first meeting with YA author Ashley Hickson-Lovence, from 11am – 12pm.
	Friday 20 March Trinity Plus Author Visit Trinity Plus shortlisted YA author Ashley Hickson-Lovence will meet Year 9 pupils to discuss his uplifting verse novel Wild East.

Week 4

Monday 23 – Wednesday 25 March

D&D does Sherlock

Visit the Library at lunch to take part in a one-off Sherlock-themed Dungeons and Dragons campaign. No previous experience necessary!

Thursday 27 March - Wednesday 23 April

Great House Read for Refugees

Read and fundraise as much as you can for individual prizes, House glory and the UN Refugee Agency.

Reviews

The Good Schools Guide
Talk Education
Tatler Schools Guide
From Parents
From Pupils

‘Spectacular music from the start.’

Read the full review

‘Stunning art from outset.’

'Range of clubs and societies...mind-boggling'

Range of clubs and societies…mind-boggling’

‘…pupils are taught to become independent critical thinkers...’

Read the full review for Prep

Read the full review for Senior

'The whole school is led impressively by Chris Wolsey...'

‘The whole school is led impressively by Chris Wolsey. Engaged and accessible, he brings a collegiate style of leadership to the school community.’

'...seamlessly combines tradition and innovation…’

‘This all-through school on the edge of Richmond Park seamlessly combines tradition and innovation…’

‘Christoper Wolsey is somebody who genuinely cares about the wellbeing and opinions of the students.’

‘From personal experience – and it’s the consensus among my peers – I believe that Christopher Wolsey is somebody who genuinely cares about the wellbeing and opinions of the students.’ So says one satisfied parent of Ibstock’s head. And Wolsey cares about the pupils’ articulacy, too.

Tatler

'Alongside forging positive relationships with his charges, he puts great emphasis on their oracy..'

'Alongside forging positive relationships with his charges, he puts great emphasis on their oracy: the public-speaking team recently triumphed in a competition at Cambridge University; and through membership of the The Noisy Classroom organisation, the debaters can argue the toss with children from around the world.'

'The new Esports arena is match-fit for gamers'

'The new Esports arena is match-fit for gamers; the school team has exploded onto the Esports Rocket League, already winning silverware; and did we mention that there’s an incoming head of AI? However, if all this doesn’t sound enticing enough, the roster of foreign adventures should clinch it. ‘Over the next few years, my lucky son is hoping to go on a classics trip to Pompeii and a Tuscan art retreat, as well as language-study visits to Munich and Valencia, skiing in Switzerland and surfing in France,’ reports one parent.'

‘…the range of community and charity activities...'

‘…the range of community and charity activities that my son is involved with is amazing.’

‘We love everything about Ibstock...'

‘We love everything about Ibstock and our son is incredibly happy there.’

'...my daughter is happy and flourishing...'

‘Very happy indeed with the school as a parent. Most importantly, my daughter is happy and flourishing. Thank you.’

'...I don’t think there could be a better school for me.’

‘It’s given me so many opportunities... I don’t think there could be a better school for me.’

‘Right from the beginning I was made to feel at home.’

‘Ibstock...helped me to explore my interests and talents.’

‘Ibstock helped me achieve the grades I needed…but more importantly it helped me to explore my interests and talents.’

Ibstock Crimefest 2026 | Ibstock Place Prep School, Roehampton | Private School Near Richmond, Barnes, Putney, Kingston, & Wandsworth

Reviews