What are reading champions?
Reading champions are pupil leaders who raise the profile of reading within their school.
A group of Hackney schools have nominated two children from Y5/6 to be Hackney reading champions for their school. They meet regularly with other schools to create a network, supporting pupil voice across the borough.
The meetings include an opportunity to recommend texts and discuss their roles, learning from each other. They complete challenges to foster reading for pleasure within their school.
The group is run by Hackney Education and Hackney Libraries.
What do the reading champions do?
The aim of the reading champions is to:
- Create pupil leaders of reading who have meaningful roles in enriching the reading culture
- Promote reading in schools through a ‘peer led’ system to motivate other children to read
- Share best practice with the other Hackney reading champions and support each other
- Create a platform for honest pupil voice that supports L.A. and School leader decisions
How it works
At the launch at Hackney Town Hall, the children were set challenges to complete throughout the year which support building a reading ethos. The challenges range from supporting individuals to read more to developing whole school initiatives such as reading clubs at lunchtime.
Each online meeting has a review and sharing of ideas and we discuss progress and impact of the challenges, celebrating successes.
The best part is when the children give their recommendations.