Booking in for a wonderful prize
Primary is the best in Britain
Alison Rennie
Pupils at an inspirational Johnstone primary are celebrating being named the UK Literacy School of the Year.
St Anthony’s Primary was chosen for the prestigious honour by the UK Literacy Association which aims to raise reading and writing standards in schools across the nation.
The school, which has around 200 pupils, was described by the judges as “inspirational” with headteacher Jacqueline McBurnie’s “outstanding” leadership also coming in for praise.
Ms McBurnie received the award yesterday from UKLA president Tracy Parvin at the school in front of staff and pupils.
She 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.
“Our children deserve the very best and in St Anthony’s we strive to be excellent in every way, every day to achieve this.”
St Anthony’s is using the Renfrewshire Literacy Approach, a pioneering project between Renfrewshire Council and the University of Strathclyde.
Funded by the council and the Scottish Government, the approach gives specialised training to primary and secondary teachers to encourage a love of reading. It has led to an improvement in children’s literacy attainment regardless of their background.
Ms McBurnie added: “The journey of St Anthony’s Primary was supported by the Renfrewshire Literacy Approach, which resulted in changes being made through a process of coproduction between school professionals and university academics.
“The staff in St Anthony’s Prima ry 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.”
Independent assessors who visited the school noted how committed staff were to improving the life chances of pupils, as well as their determination to work with parents and the local community.
They also said staff and pupils speak well about the books they enjoy and every classroom has a wide range of books with comfortable reading areas. Children can chat about their books in Reading Cafes and can learn using laptops, digital cameras and tablets.
St Anthony’s is in an area with levels of disadvantage according to the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) and has an attached unit for children with communication difficulties.
Assessors noted the school’s commitment to inclusion which gave children with communication difficulties the chance to share in a love of books and reading.
President of the UKLA, 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 kite mark 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.”
Convener of Renfrewshire Council’s education and children’s services policy board, Councillor Jim Paterson, said: “This award highlights the wonderful work being done in literacy by the head teachers and staff at St Anthony’s, as well as of course the pupils.
“Being able to read well and instilling a love of books in children from an early age means they will be able to take advantage of the opportunities open to them across education, whatever their background.”
Teachers at the school have now embarked on further training to improve children’s writing, as well as setting up a teachers’ book group to keep upto-date with the best of children’s books.
St Anthony’s is most definitely a school where literacy thrives