Schools that are leading the way on reading are being celebrated at a special event on Friday 15 January at Liverpool Central Library.
A total of 20 primary, secondary and special schools in the city will gather in the Discovery room to be awarded the Liverpool Reading Quality Mark and celebrate excelling at promoting reading for pleasure.
This award is the first of its type in the North West, innovated by School Improvement Liverpool Ltd, an organisation that works with schools to help them improve.
The Liverpool Reading Quality Mark has been developed in partnership with The National Literacy Trust and is supported by the Liverpool Learning Partnership, which represents all education sectors and all learners in Liverpool.
Councillor Lana Orr, Mayoral Lead for Primary education, said: “The Reading Quality Mark is giving so many Liverpool children an opportunity to read for pleasure and the work of schools their staff and students is rightly recognised and celebrated.
“The work being done to raise the profile of reading will create a new generation of readers and ensure our young people fulfil their true potential.”
It is the third group of schools in Liverpool to receive the prestigious award and now a total of 63 schools have the accolade, with a fourth group to be accredited later this academic year
The award is highly valued by Liverpool schools and its impact is spreading, with several schools in neighbouring Knowsley also working towards accreditation this term.
Sue Killen, Senior School Improvement Officer, said: “Research shows that children and young people who develop positive attitudes to reading and read for enjoyment are more likely to develop better literacy skills and improved life opportunities and our schools continually find innovative and creative ways to promote this.
“For many schools, something that has really made the difference to children’s enjoyment of reading is the development of their indoor and outdoor reading areas.
Transforming them into magical places, themed to be witches’ caves, pirate ships or jungle hideaways and ensuring that they are stocked with the most exciting books means that children want to be there and discover all that they can!
The 20 schools are:
Primary: Dovecot Primary School; Gwladys Street Primary School; Holy Name Catholic Primary School; Holy Trinity Catholic Primary School; Kingsley Primary School; Northcote Primary School; St Anne’s (Stanley) CE Primary School; St Cleopas CE Primary School; St Teresa of Lisieux Catholic Primary School; Woolton High School; St Mary’s CE Primary School; St Frances de Sales Catholic Primary School; Our Lady and St Philomena’s Catholic Primary School; Ranworth Square Primary School; Wellesbourne Primary School; and St Nicholas Catholic Primary School.
Secondary: Enterprise South Liverpool Academy; St Margaret’s CE Academy
Special: Ernest Cookson School; Sandfield Park School