More than 20 schools across Liverpool are to receive an award for their work in getting young people to read for pleasure.
The Liverpool Reading Quality Mark (LRQM) was launched last year in partnership with the National Literacy Trust and encourages schools to adopt innovative and creative practices to promote reading for pleasure. It also forms part of the City of Readers campaign which aims to make sure every child leaves primary school able to read.
A total of 23 primary and secondary schools are set to receive the LRQM as they have fulfilled the following accreditation criteria:
- Leadership and management
- Workforce development
- Reading promotion
- Reading events and groups
- School-wide opportunities for reading pleasure
- Involving family, communities and the library service
Pupils and staff from the schools will take part in a special celebration event on Friday 27 March at Liverpool’s Central Library where Councillor Lana Orr, Mayoral Lead for Reading, will present their plaques.
Councillor Orr said: “I’m delighted that we are in the position to present a large number of schools with this prestigious award.
“Research by the Institute of Education found that children who read for pleasure are likely to do significantly better in school than their peers by developing stronger literacy skills and generally improving their life opportunities.
“These schools have grasped this concept with both hands, exhibiting excellent practice when it comes to encouraging youngsters to get in to the reading habit.
“It’s encouraging to see our schools continuing to embrace this initiative, and as a result, we’re sure to see improving standards of literacy across the city.”
The schools receiving the award are:
Rice Lane Infants, Blackmoor Park Juniors, Dovedale Junior, Rice Lane Junior, St Cecilia’s Catholic Junior School, St Oswald’s Catholic Juniors, Barlows Primary, Belle Vale Primary, Blessed Sacrament Primary, Emmaus Primary, Holy Cross Primary, Kirkdale St Lawrence CE Primary, Mosspits Lane Primary, Northway Primary, Our Lady Immaculate Primary, Rudston Primary, St Anthony of Padua Primary, St Finbar’s Primary, St Gregory’s Primary, Our Lady of the Assumption, Archbishop Blanch CE High School, Broughton Hall High School and West Derby Academy.
The event runs from 10.30am to midday.
This is the second successful cohort of schools to have achieved the Reading Quality Mark. Last year 20 schools achieved the Liverpool Reading Quality Mark, the first award of this type in the North West.
**Picture courtesy of Liverpool Echo**
