Four schools in Milton Keynes marked the end of a successful book buddies literacy project at the end of the summer term, which was delivered by MK Council Extended Services. To mark their achievements Tickford Park Primary School enjoyed a picnic at Campbell Park. The events offered pupils the opportunity to come face to face with their book buddy for the first time.
The year 5 and 6 pupils started the project in May with the aim to improve their reading and writing skills. Pupils from Tickford Park teamed up with Christ the Sower Ecumenical School. They spent the last eight weeks of term sending their buddy reviews about the books they have read every week to their buddy school. They have also been engaging in activities including making bookmarks and designing t-shirts based on books they have read, which they wore for their special lunch.
The Book Buddies project was led by Milton Keynes Council’s, in partnership with the four primary schools that have identified literacy as a priority. The Council measured the pupil’s attitudes towards reading and writing at the start of the project and again at the end in order to measure the pupil’s achievements over the summer term.
Data from the pupil consultations taken before and after the project highlighted the following:
• 6% rise in the number of pupil’s that enjoy reading.
• 7% rise in the number of pupils that enjoy writing.
• 7% rise in the number of pupils that enjoy writing stories.
• 4% rise in the number of pupils who perceive themselves to be excellent readers.
(The data above is a reflection of the four schools as a whole).
Cllr Sam Potts, until recently a governor of Tickford Park and the Youth Champion in Milton Keynes commented: “We are pleased with the success of this project. The pupils have enjoyed the last eight weeks and schools have expressed an interest to do it again next year. It is great to see schools interacting and to hear pupils talking about books and sharing reviews. The pupils have also expressed their enthusiasm one commenting ‘My book buddy is someone I would play with if they went to my school. They told me about a really good book that my mum has bought for me now’.”
ENDS
