Barratt Homes book donation: 32 Dahl titles for Bury pupils 2026

Key Points

• Barratt Homes has donated 32 Roald Dahl books to Springside Primary School in Bury.
• This was done to celebrate Roald Dahl Story Day, which fell on 13 September 2026.
• Books donated include Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The BFG, Fantastic Mr Fox and Matilda.
• These books will be used as part of the reading resources for the school’s Key Stage Two.
• Gill Thornicroft, headteacher of Springside Primary School, received the donation.
• Alan Watt, the sales director at Barratt Homes Manchester, said that their company has been sponsoring schools in the area where it has developments.
• Barratt Homes is currently developing the Waldmers Wood site.

Bury (Manchester Mirror) September 15, 2026 – Pupils at Springside Primary School in Bury have received 32 Roald Dahl books from Barratt Homes, in a donation timed to coincide with Roald Dahl Story Day on 13 September. The books, which include well-known titles such as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The BFG, Fantastic Mr Fox and Matilda, will be added to the school’s reading resources for Key Stage Two pupils.

As reported by David Murphy of Roch Valley Radio, Gill Thornicroft, headteacher at Springside Primary School, said:

“These books will be a wonderful addition to our Key Stage Two reading resources. Roald Dahl books are always popular with the children and I am sure they will continue to be popular in years to come. We would like to thank Barratt Homes for their donation.”

Alan Watt, sales director at Barratt Homes Manchester, said:

“We support a large number of schools close to our developments and provide a range of brand-new reading resources for local children. We are thrilled to help Springside Primary School celebrate Roald Dahl Story Day and hope the book bundles introduce the author’s incredible tales to many imaginative minds.”

Barratt Homes, which is building homes at its nearby Waldmers Wood development, made the donation to add to the school’s reading resources.

Why was the donation made on Roald Dahl Story Day?

The donation was made to mark Roald Dahl Story Day on 13 September, an annual celebration of the author’s work in schools across the UK. By timing the gift to coincide with the event, Barratt Homes said it hoped to help Springside Primary School celebrate the day and introduce the author’s stories to pupils.

As reported by David Murphy of Roch Valley Radio, Alan Watt, sales director at Barratt Homes Manchester, said the company supports a large number of schools close to its developments and provides a range of brand-new reading resources for local children. He added: “We are thrilled to help Springside Primary School celebrate Roald Dahl Story Day and hope the book bundles introduce the author’s incredible tales to many imaginative minds.”

Which books were included in the Barratt Homes donation?

The 32 books donated by Barratt Homes included a selection of Roald Dahl’s most popular titles. Among the titles were Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The BFG, Fantastic Mr Fox and Matilda. These books will be used as part of the school’s Key Stage Two reading resources.

As reported by David Murphy of Roch Valley Radio, Gill Thornicroft, headteacher at Springside Primary School, said Roald Dahl books are always popular with the children and she was sure they would continue to be popular in years to come.

How will Springside Primary School use the donated books?

The donated books will be added to Springside Primary School’s Key Stage Two reading resources. Gill Thornicroft, headteacher at Springside Primary School, said the books would be a wonderful addition to the school’s reading provision for that age group.

As reported by David Murphy of Roch Valley Radio, Ms Thornicroft said:

“These books will be a wonderful addition to our Key Stage Two reading resources. Roald Dahl books are always popular with the children and I am sure they will continue to be popular in years to come. We would like to thank Barratt Homes for their donation.”

What is Barratt Homes’ role in the Waldmers Wood development?

Barratt Homes is building homes at its nearby Waldmers Wood development in Bury. The housebuilder said it supports a large number of schools close to its developments and provides a range of brand-new reading resources for local children.

As reported by David Murphy of Roch Valley Radio, Alan Watt, sales director at Barratt Homes Manchester, said:

“We support a large number of schools close to our developments and provide a range of brand-new reading resources for local children.”

Background to the Barratt Homes book donation in Bury

Barratt Homes has a programme of supporting schools near its housing developments, often providing reading resources and other educational materials. The donation to Springside Primary School forms part of that wider activity, with the company saying it supports a large number of schools close to its developments.

Roald Dahl Story Day is an annual event held in September to encourage schools to celebrate the author’s work through reading and related activities. By aligning the donation with this date, Barratt Homes said it hoped to help the school mark the occasion and introduce Dahl’s stories to pupils.

Prediction: How could this development affect local schools and pupils?

The donation of 32 Roald Dahl books to Springside Primary School could encourage other local schools to seek similar partnerships with developers and businesses in the area. For pupils, the addition of popular, well-known titles to Key Stage Two reading resources may help sustain engagement with reading and support literacy development.

For housebuilders such as Barratt Homes, continued support for local schools near developments like Waldmers Wood could strengthen community relations and demonstrate a commitment to local education. If replicated across other sites, this approach could lead to more schools receiving updated reading resources tied to national events such as Roald Dahl Story Day.