Newcastle Sixth Form College students are helping to inspire the next generation of readers to love books during National Children’s Reading Week (7-14 October.)
Primary School children from Our Lady and St Anne’s School are boosting their reading skills thanks to an enrichment project at Newcastle Sixth Form College.
The school, based in Scotswood, has entered into a partnership with the college which sees students as young as five years old visit every Wednesday afternoon to be helped with their reading by the Sixth Form students.
The “Paired Reading” project is part of an enrichment programme which is embedded into the curriculum. Every Wednesday, all staff and students at the Sixth Form take part in a range of activities outside of the classroom with the aim of enriching the student experience and boosting CV’s in preparation for University.
The activities on offer range from everything from working in the community, climbing and running clubs to art appreciation as well as the Paired Reading project.
Divine Tando, age 5 said : “I love coming here and seeing where the big boys and girls study. They have really helped me with my reading.”
Qais Huseeb, also aged 5 added : “I love reading at the college. My cousin comes here and I want to come here when I am a big boy.”
Students Hollie Hutchinson, 16 and Rebecca Gregg 18 feel inspired by the project.
Hollie said : “Helping a child progress just feels amazing. I eventually want to be a Psychiatrist for children and teenagers so being part of this project is invaluable.”
Rebecca added : “It’s inspiring and exciting to be part of the project and the children are just lovely. I eventually want to be a Primary School teacher so this is really helping with my application to University.”
Steve Gibson, Principal of Newcastle Sixth Form said : “The Paired Reading project has been a hugely positive experience for both our students and the pupils. I believe we are the only Sixth Form in the area that offers such a broad spectrum of enrichment which is embedded into the college day.
“It is an absolute pleasure to engage with the school and the pupils are a delight. We hope that their time with us is both insightful and gives them an aspirational boost both to their reading and their school experience.”
Michael O Brien, Headteacher at Our Lady and St Anne’s said : “This is a fantastic project. Our job is not just to teach but to enrich the pupil experience – this project does exactly that.
“A lot of our children need additional support with their reading so to have a half hour quality time, one on one is really beneficial. The college have been hugely supportive and I am confident that this is just the start of great partnership”
