Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Deputy First Minister joins pupils for big book launch
Well- read Coatbridge High pupils showed their literary flair by releasing their very own book.
Ahead of the school’s closure for the Covid-19 lockdown, third-year youngsters were joined by Deputy First Minister John Swinney and Coatbridge MSP Fulton MacGregor in unveiling “Bridging the Gap – Using the Pupil Equity Fund to Develop Literacy in Coatbridge High” at the Waterstones store in Glasgow’s Sauchiehall Street.
As the title suggests, the book’s creation came about when the school used some of the £332,400 pupil quity funding (PEF) it has received over the past three years to allow a group of “reluctant readers” to take part in a literacy initiative.
The aim was to “develop enjoyment in reading, broaden their reading choices and develop creative writing skills”.
Scottish author Martin Stewart worked with the youngsters to produce the book, which describes the group’s journey.
It focuses on how the school’s “writer in residence” project, aiming to encourage pupils to read and work on their writing skills, and gives examples of the whole creative process and how their relationship with Martin helped.
Coatbridge High is in the third year of the literacy initiative, with the book concentrating on the first year of the project.
Deputy First Minister John Swinney said: “The work being taken forward by Coatbridge High is a wonderful example of creativity at the heart of Scottish education.
“Their writer in residence scheme has helped pupils to develop a joy of reading, broaden their literary choices and hone their creative writing skills.
“It is absolutely fantastic to see this innovative approach to closing the poverty-related attainment gap and it was a privilege to attend the pupils’ book launch.”