PUPILS from a Droitwich school are celebrating after experiencing double success at a countywide event aimed at promoting reading in schools.
For the second year in a row, the team from Westacre Middle School were victorious in a competition held as part of the annual Worcestershire Awesomest Book Awards to see which school knew most about the books short-listed for this year’s award.
The pupils were chosen to represent the Ombersley Way school as a reward for their effort with reading and taking on the responsibility of being school librarians in school.
The children had spent time back in school judging and shortlisting books, then reading the final shortlisted books before encouraging their peers back at school to vote for their favourite.
Previous authors voted for by Worcestershire youngsters include David Walliams and Rachel Hamilton.
Despite fierce competition from hundreds of pupils from across the county, the Westacre pupils were again announced as overall winners of the event and received individual certificates and a collection of books.
They also got to meet author Chris Callaghan, who wrote ‘The Great Chocoplot’, which received the accolade back in 2017.
He said: “You have some incredibly enthusiastic, friendly and intelligent readers in Worcestershire, you should be very proud of them. It was a great morning.
“Congratulations to Westacre Middle, you are well deserved champions. Great to meet you all. Keep on reading!”
This year’s winner of the Worcestershire Awesoment Book award, as voted for by school children across the county, was ‘Funny Kid for President’ by Matt Stanton.
Deputy headteacher, Paul Barber, said: “As a school, we are aware of the importance of children both enjoying and making progress in their reading and continually encourage children to read as much as they can.
“So for our pupils to receive this award yet again, we are exceptionally proud!
“A massive thank you and congratulations to our School Librarian Mrs Phillips for helping to organise this event and to our pupil librarians for creating such a buzz around school about books and for their efforts during this exciting day out.”
