The Worst Witch: questions to ask and activities to try
Mildred Hubble is the worst witch at Miss Cackle's Academy. The Worst Witch is the original, much-loved magical school story.
What age is it for? The Worst Witch is best for ages 6–9. Good for: Getting things wrong at witch school.
Read a chapter at a time. Talk about how Mildred keeps trying despite her mistakes.
What it helps with
- Making mistakes
- Trying again
- School and friendships
- Classic chapter books
Comprehension and discussion questions
Pick two or three, not all of them. “I don’t know” is a fine answer, and you can always come back to it another day.
- “Where does Mildred go to school?”
- “What goes wrong for her?”
- “Who is Ethel?”
- “Who is her friend?”
- “How did she save the day?”
- “What mistake have you learned from?”
5-minute activities to try together
Spell book
Write a spell that goes wrong in a funny way.
Broomstick practice
Practise something tricky five times and see how it improves.
Free printables: The Worst Witch worksheet and activity pack
This book’s one-page worksheet with the questions and activities above, plus our activity pack: printable scenario cards, three 5-minute activities and a “What could I try?” page for practising everyday skills together. Enter your email and download them straight away.
Free. We’ll only email you if you tick the box.
If your child liked this, try
The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes (Mark Pett and Gary Rubinstein)
- Best for
- Fear of mistakes, perfectionism and trying new things
- Age
- 5-8
Meg and Mog (Helen Nicoll and Jan Pieńkowski)
- Best for
- A witch, her cat and a spell gone wrong
- Age
- 2-6
Picklewitch and Jack (Claire Barker and Teemu Juhani)
- Best for
- A grumpy tree witch and an unlikely friend
- Age
- 6-9
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By the Growing Wise team · Last reviewed: 10 October 2026
Growing Wise offers educational ideas for parents and carers. It is not a substitute for professional medical, developmental or mental-health advice. As an Amazon Associate, Growing Wise earns from qualifying purchases.