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Kent Literacy Awards 2015 winners announced at Hempstead House ceremony

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

Kent Literacy Awards 2015 winners at Hempstead House with key partners of the event KCC, Canterbury Tales, Clarkson Wright and Jakes, Beanstalk, 3R's, SELT and SEK.
Kent Literacy Awards 2015 winners at Hempstead House with key partners of the event KCC, Canterbury Tales, Clarkson Wright and Jakes, Beanstalk, 3R's, SELT and SEK.

Nominations were received from parents, pupils and teaching staff across Kent and Medway trumpeting the most successful literacy initiatives at their schools. The best themes, schemes and projects were revealed during last night’s awards event hosted by Hempstead House near Sittingbourne.

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), Canterbury Tales, Clarkson Wright and Jakes, Beanstalk, 3R's, Southern Educational Leadership Trust and Social Enterprise Kent.

Gillian Cawley, director of education quality and standards at KCC, said: “We have seen the crème de la crème of innovative projects for reading, writing, speaking and listening – the most important skills that we can impart.”

The Overall Kent Literacy Champion of the Year award went to Meadowfield School, Sittingbourne. The special needs school which has more than 220 pupils with complex needs also received the district award for best use of drama to promote writing, speaking and listening.

Nominations praised the school for entering the national Shakespeare Schools Festival which saw mainstream and special needs schools give performances in a theatre setting.

Helen Newman, who collected both awards on behalf of the school, said: “I’m so pleased we’ve won because it has increased pupils’ confidence throughout the whole school. Winning this is just amazing.”

Helen Newman of Meadowfield School (second left) and colleague collected Overall Kent Literacy Champion of the Year award presented by Mandy Holdstock (Hempstead House) and Gillian Cawley (KCC).
Helen Newman of Meadowfield School (second left) and colleague collected Overall Kent Literacy Champion of the Year award presented by Mandy Holdstock (Hempstead House) and Gillian Cawley (KCC).

Simon Dolby of the KM Charity Team, which organised the awards, said: “Winning one of these awards really is an achievement in excellent literacy practice; the nominations were extremely strong and our judging panel found it very difficult to choose our winners.”

A document detailing all of the winning initiatives will be published and distributed to schools in Kent, Medway and Bexley to spread best practice.

Organisations supporting the awards include Medway Council, Mini Babybel, Specsavers, The Ernest Cook Trust, Orbit South, Golding Vision (part of Golding Homes) and Leeds Castle.

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.

To find out more about the Kent Literacy Awards or the Buster's Book Club reading scheme for schools, click on the links or visit www.kmcharityteam.co.uk.

FACT FILE

  • More than 50 nominations were received for the Kent Literacy Awards 2015.
  • The competition categories included best use of IT, best writing topic, best use of art or drama, best library, and best book week theme.
  • Learn from the best by downloading a document from this link http://sforce.co/1FB2Pss detailing the winning entries.
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