Twenty three schools have received top honours at the Kent Literacy Awards for devising new and exciting ways to boost pupils’ literacy skills.

Nominations were received from parents, pupils and teaching staff across Kent, Medway and Bexley trumpeting the most successful initiatives at their schools.

Representatives from the winning schools were presented with trophies, certificates and prizes in recognition of their creativity and dedication to literacy in the classroom.

They were applauded by key partners of the event including Kent County Council (KCC), Medway Council, Beanstalk, Three R’s Teacher Recruitment, Kent Reliance, Golding Vision (Part of Golding Homes), School News Group, Orbit South, Hallett & Co, The Canterbury Tales, Wildwood, Social Enterprise Kent, Whitefriars Canterbury and Independent Music Productions (IMP).

Roger Gough, Cabinet Member for Education at KCC, said: “The Kent Literacy Awards are a wonderful initiative. What I believe has been particularly impressive is the sheer range of innovative processes that schools are applying to optimise learning and engagement, inside and outside the classroom.”

One of the evening’s big winners was King Ethelbert School, Thanet who claimed the Overall Shakespeare Champion honour. Lauren Pasola of the school spoke proudly about the winning scheme.

“We’ve been working in partnership with the Royal Shakespeare Company to develop this project, and the results for our students, staff and even parents have been amazing. Pupils feel confident to explore and analyse language, and it has had a direct influence on our school’s results, but more importantly, it has boosted the aspirations of our children,” she said.

The celebratory awards event – devised by the KM Group’s charitable division – were staged at Hempstead House Hotel and Spa, Bapchild, near Sittingbourne.

Simon Dolby, chief executive of the KM Charity Team, said: “As an educational charity, we are passionate about spreading best practice to all schools across the county, and shouting about schemes which are bettering the next generation. Our Kent Literacy Award winners are doing just that: innovating, experimenting, and going beyond the line of duty to improve essential reading, writing, speaking and listening skills.”

Mr Dolby was also quick to thank Hempstead House and fellow key partners for their support of the evening. “They have been absolutely instrumental to the progress and success of the awards. We are most grateful for their involvement,” he said.

A detailed booklet showcasing all of the winning initiatives will be published and circulated to schools in Kent, Medway and Bexley to spread best practice.

A digital version of the Kent Literacy Awards 2016 best practice booklet can be downloaded here.

Businesses passionate about improving the literacy of the next generation can support next year’s Kent Literacy Awards. To get involved, contact Mr Dolby on sdolby@thekmgroup.co.uk or by calling 07989 164 752.

Click on the links to find out more about the Kent Literacy Awards or the KM Charity Team’s reading scheme for schools Buster’s Book Club.

Click here to view the full Kent Literacy Awards gallery

Kent Literacy Awards 2016 Winners

Overall Champions:

Overall Shakespeare Champion – King Ethelbert School, Thanet

Overall IT in Literacy Champion – Dartford Bridge CE School, Dartford

Overall Drama Champion – Homewood School & Sixth Form Centre, Ashford

Overall Book Week Champion – Wilmington Academy, Dartford

Overall Literacy Innovation Champion – Milestone Academy, Dartford

Overall Best School Library Champion – Herne Bay High School, Canterbury

Overall Speaking and Listening Champion – Herne CE Infant School, Canterbury

Overall Writing Champion – All Saints Nursery School, Canterbury

Overall Reading for Pleasure Champion – Brookfield Infant School, Malling

District Winners:

Ashford: Best Initiative to Encourage Speaking and Listening Skills – Tenterden CEJ School; Best Use of Drama to Promote Writing, Speaking and Listening Skills – Homewood School & Sixth Form Centre

Bexley: Best Promotion of Reading for Pleasure – St Fidelis Catholic Primary School

Canterbury: Most Successful Literacy Collaboration – Simon Langton Girls’ Grammar School; Best Initiative to Encourage Speaking and Listening Skills – Herne CE Infant School; Best Use of Cross Curricular Writing – Spires Academy; Best School Library – Herne Bay High School; Most Engaging Writing Competition or Theme – Whitstable Junior School; Most Imaginative Promotion of Literacy – All Saints Nursery School

Dartford: Most Innovative Creation of a Literacy Source – Milestone Academy; Best School Library – Maypole Primary School; Most Engaging Book Week Theme – Wilmington Academy; Most Effective Use of IT to Enhance Reading – Dartford Bridge CP School

Maidstone: Best Initiative to Encourage Speaking and Listening Skills – Archbishop Courtenay CE Primary School; Best Initiative to Support EAL Families – West Borough Primary School

Medway: Most Inclusive Development of Literacy – Bradfields Academy; Best Use of Cross Curricular Writing – Oaklands School

Sevenoaks: Best Literacy Intervention Scheme – Wrotham School

Shepway: Best Use of Cross Curricular Targets – Brockhill Park Performing Arts College

Swale: Most Inspiring Book Corner – Meadowfield School; Most Engaging Writing Competition or Theme – Meadowfield School

Thanet: Best Use of Shakespeare to Promote Literacy – King Ethelbert School

Tonbridge and Malling: Best Development of a Literacy Initiative – Brookfield Infant School; Best Promotion of Reading for Pleasure – Kings Hill Primary School; Most Engaging Book Week Theme – Kings Hill Primary School