YOUNG readers are a force to be reckoned with as a North Yorkshire school launches a unique initiative to bring pupils together through reading.
Working in partnership with the British Army students at Risedale Sports and Community College, Hipswell, Catterick, which has over 45 per cent of students from an armed forces background, are to pilot a shared reading project to encourage service pupils and civilian pupils to buddy up and read together.
An extension of the Reading Force charity pilot, initiated by the Armed Forces Covenant LIBOR Fund to provide free books for service children and their famines, the buddy scheme encourages all pupils to enjoy and improve their reading.
Northallerton and Catterick Federation lead practitioner for English Sarah Matthewman said: “Reading is central to everything that we do in school.
“Risedale is all about inclusivity so our buddy scheme will see pupils join up with a partner to read the same book title and complete a scrap book and quiz on what they have read before then getting another free book.
“To ensure that we can provide free books to all pupils we have asked army personnel within each mess in Catterick Garrison to donate £50 which the school will then match.”
The buddy scheme follows on from Ridedale’s accelerated reading programme which encourages pupils to develop their individual reading ability.
The online customised programme tests children on their initial reading levels setting targets for pupils and challenging them with online quizzes before moving them onto a higher level.
“We have had a huge success with our accelerated reading programme,” said Mrs Matthewman.
“In five months we have seen our students’ reading ages increase dramatically and we already have five students who have read more than a million words.”
Other reading initiatives include the support of seven army mentors who read with the school’s Year 11 students on a weekly basis.
Tommy Roberts, 12, of Catterick Garrison, whose father is a Warrant Officer Class 1 in the PT Corps, said: “In five months my reading age has gone up three years to age 16.
“It’s been good for my vocabulary and reading and I feel more confident like I have really achieved something.”
Garrison Commander Colonel Stephen Padgett added: “I’m not an expert on education but I’m pretty sure this will be a positive experience for all involved.
“The children will be inspired and can participate in something that interests them. Outreach is important for the Army and the civilian community to understand and appreciate each other. I commend the school as this is a win win activity.”