During the Autumn Term, we launched a whole-school strategy to improve literacy skills by encouraging our students to rediscover reading for pleasure as well as for education. Our library programme, Reading Rewards has proved extremely popular and now our new library is a hub for keen readers.

All of our students are issued with a Reading Rewards bookmark on which they can collect a stamp for each book they borrow from the library and these can then be exchanged for a selection of bespoke rewards, which include pin badges, book bags and t-shirts.

Research shows that higher level attainment is directly linked to reading; not only does it promote creative thinking, it also increases vocabulary and improves skills in punctuation and grammar, which leads to better quality written work in all subjects. This is particularly useful during exam time when good literacy skills are often the key to achieving higher grades.

Already, we are seeing an improvement in the quality of student work and we expect this to continue alongside their growing enthusiasm for literature and creative writing.

Mrs Mulryan, our Literacy Co-ordinator is delighted with the success of the scheme. She said, "It is great to see our students reading a book in preference to surfing the internet. Daniel Wheatley, our Academy Librarian and I have worked hard to organise a full programme of exciting literacy-based events and competitons this year and students have really enjoyed them; we have plenty more planned for the coming months."

The Reading Rewards programme has been particularly popular; Year 7 student, Mathew S, pictured here with Aleena S in Year 8, has become a prolific reader of both fiction and non-fiction since the launch of the initiative, claiming his reward badge, book bag and t-shirt within a matter of weeks!

Now, our library is a daily hive of activity, hosting special events and competitions including two recent competitions which took place for students in Key Stages 4 and 5.

Firstly, as part of the Harry Potter Book Night event, students were challenged to create a wizard that could appear in the Harry Potter universe. Winners were Emily H, Year 8 and Katie K, Year 9. Secondly, in a Literacy/Science collaboration, the STEM "What are the chances... " competition asked students to write an imaginative Space-themed piece beginning with the open phrase. Winners were Ellie-Rose J, Year 7; Aleena S, Emily H and Kyle B, Year 8; and, Ellie J, Lauren M and Megann G, all in Year 10. STEM winners all earned a place on the trip to Kielder Observatory. Congratulations to everyone.