Sharp rise in reading awards

More schools have submitted entries for the second year of the First Minister’s Reading Challenge Awards.

A total of 729 submissions for the awards were received from primary schools compared to 540 last year – a 35% increase. The awards recognise outstanding participation in the reading challenge from both schools and pupils.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon will host a celebration event in Edinburgh where she will present the winning schools and pupils with their awards.

The First Minister said:

“I launched the First Minister’s Reading Challenge to encourage children to read for pleasure from an early age so I’m thrilled so many schools have taken part in the challenge this year, and that entries for the awards have increased. This highlights the enthusiasm teachers and pupils have shown for the challenge and reading.

“I love hearing the different ways schools get involved in the challenge and I’m looking forward to meeting pupils from across the country and seeing all their hard work from the last year.”

Marc Lambert, CEO of reading charity Scottish Book Trust which runs the challenge, said:

“Reading for pleasure boosts children’s creativity, mental well-being and performance at school and beyond and is one of the most important things we can instil in children.

“These awards recognise some amazing work from schools and pupils who have shown a real commitment to building and sustaining a reading culture.”

Background

The award ceremony will take place in Edinburgh on 20 June 2018. Award categories are:

• Pupil reading journey – seven prizes for P1 – P7
• Pupil reading the most books – two prizes for lower and upper primary
• School reading the most books
• Gaelic medium education reading journey
• School and community partnership reading journey – three awards for national winner, local authority winner and highly commended
• School reading journey - three awards for National Winner, Local Authority Winner and Highly Commended