The Gaelic-speakers of Goodlyburn Primary School in Perth have been celebrating a national win in reading awards by the Scottish Book Trust.
The winners of the First Minister’s Reading Challenge 2020-21 were announced recently online.
The reading challenge was launched to inspire as many young people as possible to discover a joy of reading and the awards connected with it recognise the efforts of schools and pupils to support reading for enjoyment and create a reading culture in their school, home or community.
The national Gaelic Medium Education (GME) Reading Journey award went to Goodlyburn Primary School.
The judges felt that the Perthshire pupils had gone “above and beyond” since winning the same category back in 2018.
They noted Goodlyburn had introduced an exciting and inclusive project called ‘Mother Tongue to Other Tongue’ and integrated popular genres across their work.
The school has worked hard to embed books and reading across its GME curriculum.
Head teacher at Goodlyburn Primary School Annemarie Sands said: “Reading is the passport to access all areas of the curriculum.
“To foster a love of reading is essential if children are to be successful in their learning.
“However, reading for pleasure is so much more than that.
“It promotes positive wellbeing and allows our children to explore texts through which they can explore the world and also, at times, escape from it.
“We continue to work to develop a positive reading culture which permeates all aspects of our school and the First Minister’s Reading Challenge provides us with an ideal vehicle through which to do that.”
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon congratulated the winners and said: “Reading is something that always brings me joy.
“During the pandemic, it has been a lifeline, and I know it has been for countless others.
“I have been so impressed with all the innovative work schools and communities have been doing this year.”
