Scottish school is 'Literacy school of the year'

A primary school in Renfrewshire where all teachers attend a month children's book club and most have studied children's literature to masters level has won the UKLA's Literacy school of the year award.

St Anthony's Primary, in Renfrewshire, was described by Tracy Parvin, president of the United Kingdom Literacy Association (UKLA), as 'a school where literacy thrives'. It is the first in Scotland to win the award. The majority of the schools staff 14 out of 17 teachers took the University of Strathclyde's masters-level module in children's literature last year. All the school's teachers attend a monthly children's book club. The school has renovated its classroom libraries and scrapped writing traditional book review for reading cafes, where pupils can chat about books with a juice and a biscuit. St Anthony's headteacher Jacqueline McBurnie told Tes Scotland that pupils have started to print off and stick QR (quick response) codes inside books, linking to a piece of writing about the book, to a photo, or to a short video review by a pupil for the next reader. The school's 200 pupils are now willing readers, said Ms McBurnie. St Anthony's Primary - which serves a deprived area - is one of a number of Renfrewshire schools to recently win an award for driving forward improvements in pupil literacy. Todholm Primary in the same council area won last year's Scottish Education Awards prize for raising attainment in literacy. In 2015, the council launched the Renfrewshire Literacy Approach, which has resulted in academics and teachers working in partnership to improve the way reading is taught in primary schools. Headteacher McBurnie said, "I am absolutely, delighted for our staff and children in receiving this prestigious award. It is testimony to all their hard work and unlimited enthusiasm for learning. "The journey of St. Anthony's Primary was supported by the Renfrewshire Literacy Approach, which resulted in changes being made through a process of co-production between school professionals and university academics. "The staff in St Anthonys Primary embraced the programme with enthusiasm and determination that we would improve our knowledge of literacy, increase our understanding of how poverty impacts on literacy attainment and of how to intervene to promote equality. Our children deserve the very best and in St. Anthony's we strive ...to achieve this." The school is about to be refurbished, and the building plans include a library, with community access, at the centre of the school. In addition to a wealth of print resources, children have the opportunity to learn using laptops, digital cameras and tablets. UKLA president Tracy Parvin, said: "This award recognises those schools which place literacy and literature right at the heart of children's learning. It is more than a celebration of creative, enthusiastic and engaging teaching it is a kitemark for excellence. "This year's winning school has left a lasting impression on our assessors: St Anthony's Primary School is most definitely a school where literacy thrives."