Dornoch Academy wins national reading award
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Dornoch Academy is celebrating after winning a national reading award.
The school has been named as the 2023 winners of the First Minister’s Reading Challenge – an award which recognises the “reading journeys of secondary schools”.
The school was praised for introducing projects for all pupils aimed at encouraging them to read.
These included awarding house points for reading and setting up noticeboards for pupils to share book reviews and recommendations.
The academy also made use of First Minister’s Reading Challenge funding to host an event with local writer Neil Lancaster, which was said to have had a “phenomenal” impact.
The First Minister’s Reading Challenge was established in 2016, and celebrates the reading journeys of schools, libraries, and community groups across Scotland.
The Challenge is run by Scottish Book Trust, working closely with Education Scotland. It includes book suggestions, learning resources, prizes, case studies and ideas to help young people develop a love of reading, as well as the opportunity to apply for funded author visits.
Norman Ross, head teacher at Dornoch Academy, said: "This is an honour for the school and I am delighted that we are going to be welcoming representatives of the First Minister’s Reading Challenge to the school.
"Creating a lifelong culture of literacy is a central part of Dornoch Academy and I am very grateful to Fiona Macleod, our English department and, most of all, our young people for making it a place where reading is valued."
S1 pupil Isla said: "I feel proud that such a small school can win such a big award."
Book Trust chief executive Marc Lambert, said: "Many congratulations to this year’s First Minister’s Reading Challenge winners, as well as to those who were highly commended. Reading for pleasure supports attainment across the curriculum – as well as boosting empathy, wellbeing and critical thinking – and we are delighted to see how schools, libraries and community groups have used the Challenge to develop their reading cultures."
