BUDDING bookworms have been receiving help from seasoned readers in an initiative designed to boost their interest in literature.
Year 7 pupils at Richmond School and Sixth Form took part in a bumper book fair using tokens they had been given as part of a global reading project.
Helping run the fair in the school’s library was the owner of the town’s Castle Hill Book Shop Wendy Patch who previously had invited the children to scour the shelves of her store.
She said: “Five out of six children did not even know the book shop was there – but they do now – and they loved it. They are a lovely set of students and I know that by reading, their use of language will expand hugely.”
KS3 English co-ordinator Sam Weston said the recent activities were the latest in a determined drive to generate enthusiasm for reading which will, in turn, make all the students’ studies easier.
“Reading is a foundation stone of education and if children enjoy it then they are actually learning without even realising,” she said.
“It is the most rewarding thing to see them excited about reading and our peer mentors are a very powerful tool. The sixth formers are paired with pupils with similar interests and they inspire them to be more proficient and confident readers.”
Sixth former Thomas Mann, 18, of Richmond, said: “We have received some training which is great for our development. I want to be a teacher so being a mentor has helped me with my confidence and it’s lovely to see the Year 7s grow too.”
