Rushbury CE, Longden CE, Greenacres and Castlefields (Bridgnorth) primary schools have each been awarded a Leading in Reading accreditation award for their outstanding commitment to developing a reading for pleasure culture in their schools.
Chair of Trustees, Sophie Peach, says:
“Shrewsbury Bookfest has been facilitating literacy based activities for Shropshire primary schools for over 21 years. During this time we have worked alongside many inspiring, dedicated teachers committed to engaging all their pupils with a love of reading.”
This year we have identified 4 schools that we believe meet the criteria for this award. We invited each of these schools to apply for the award, schools were visited by Bookfest and a member of the UCS team, each nomination was then reviewed by the Bookfest Board of Trustees.
Launched today at Shrewsbury Bookfest’s conference for teachers, the Leading in Reading accreditation scheme has been developed by Shrewsbury Bookfest in partnership with the University Centre Shrewsbury to recognise the real commitment shown by schools across the county in promoting reading for pleasure.
The four schools were initially identified as contenders for Leading in Reading accreditation and were assessed against a list of criteria, including evidence of strategies such as promoting reading for pleasure as central to the school’s policy and reading, celebration and advocacy involving all groups in the wider school community and providing ideas for promoting reading integrated into the school CPD programme.
This commitment by the four schools has been evidenced through their active and continual participation in reading development initiatives delivered by Shrewsbury Bookfest as well as the delivery of reading activities personal to their own schools.
The University Centre Shrewsbury and Shrewsbury Bookfest recently visited each of the schools to assess and see first hand the impressive work and commitment by the teachers. Their report findings were fed back to the Trustees at Shrewsbury Bookfest for consideration and the accreditation awards were presented to the schools today at Shrewsbury Bookfest’s conference for teachers.
Chris Tay, Head Teacher of Longden CE Primary school says of the accreditation award:
“In a situation where curriculum is constantly under pressure, the Leading in Reading award represents a timely recognition for those courageous schools where good test results are the unintended by-product, and not the intended purpose, of a good education. Where traditional sources of support for good education have sadly been reduced to an agenda of compliance, partnerships with organisations like Shrewsbury Bookfest become vital to schools seeking inspiring and sustaining means of improving teaching and learning.”
Diane Pye, Head Teacher of Rushbury CE Primary school said in her acceptance speech at the Conference:
The ‘Leading in Reading’ accreditation award is so valuable as it recognises the commitment and enthusiasm of so many people who work in our schools promoting reading, coming up with great ideas to get children into books, and to get them involved in events like this. Surely, we cannot be far away from a time when children from every school in Shropshire take part in Shrewsbury Bookfest projects. Wouldn’t that be great for Shropshire and, most importantly, great for our children.”
Simone Goward of Greenacres Primary School said:
” We’re very excited to achieve the Bookfest Leading in Reading Ambassador Award that celebrates the importance we place in reading for pleasure at Greenacres. It’s our ambition that all of our children are nurtured to develop a love of reading that lasts a lifetime.”
All four winners were presented with certificates and plaques by at University Centre Shrewsbury on 20th November 2019.
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