Kirrie school attains gold award for its reading culture
A Kirriemuir school is celebrating after achieving the prestigious Gold Reading Schools Award from the Scottish Book Trust – the highest level of accreditation available.
Northmuir Primary School's Early Learning and Childcare Centre have also been recognised with the Early Learning Reading Schools Award.
The Scottish Book Trust’s Reading Schools initiative demonstrates a school’s commitment to building a culture of reading.
Led by Ashley Arbuckle, Depute Head Teacher and the school's pupil Reading Champions, the whole school community worked together to promote reading through a wide range of creative activities and partnerships.
These included building local partnerships with Realm of Imagination Toy Shop, Kirriemuir Library, Kirriemuir Dental Practice and Webster's High School.
Reading has become part of everyday life across the school, with pupils sharing book recommendations through weekly 'Koala-ty Book Reviews', taking part in Comic Club, and participating in paired reading sessions and national literacy events such as Book Week Scotland and World Book Day.
The school has also created welcoming reading spaces, including a new library and a 'Book Neuk' where books can be borrowed and exchanged free of charge.
This year, the children also enjoyed meeting authors at the Waterstones Book Festival and celebrated their inspiration with a whole-school dragon exhibition, while Reading Champions spread positivity throughout the local community by creating a trail of uplifting poems.
The Reading Schools scheme is an accreditation programme for schools that are committed to building a culture of reading for their learners and communities.
Research has proved that reading for pleasure has positive impacts on learners' attainment across the curriculum, supporting well-being, critical thinking, creativity, empathy and resilience.
It also provides professional development opportunities for staff; a way to champion pupil voice; opportunities for collaboration within and between schools and pathways to engaging families and the wider community.
Mrs Arbuckle said: “We are thrilled that the school has achieved the Gold Reading Schools Award and that our ELC has also been recognised with the Early Learning Reading Schools Award.
“Our aim has been to ignite a love of reading across our whole school community and create a vibrant reading culture that everyone can be part of.
“We have worked hard to make reading accessible to all, with our children, staff and families embracing opportunities to share and celebrate books every day. We're particularly proud that our pupils have helped shape this journey.
“Their ideas have influenced everything from the books we buy for our library to the reading activities we offer, helping provide a diverse collection of books that reflects our learners and encourages reading for enjoyment. We look forward to continuing to build on this success and inspiring a lifelong love of reading in all of our children.”