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Schools line up for Big Diamond Jubilee Read supported by HRH The Duchess of Cornwall
18 Apr 2012
The National Literacy Trust and Oxford University Press are helping to get pupils in the UK and throughout the Commonwealth reading and writing with a new competition to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.
The Big Diamond Jubilee Read encapsulates the excitement of the Royal Family’s tour of Commonwealth in the Diamond Jubilee year by taking children on a reading journey around the world and giving them the chance to write to pupils in another Commonwealth country and share their favourite books.
The reading part of the competition encourages children to read more by allowing them to collect ‘reading miles’ as they spend time reading at home or at school, documenting them in a special reading passport. Using these miles they will ‘travel’ on a classroom map to some of the countries the Royal Family is visiting. In total the challenge will encompass 11 hours of reading.
The writing part of the competition sees pupils choose a book they have read on their reading journey and write to a real group of children from a Commonwealth country to tell them what they thought about it and why they should read it.
The competition has already captured schools’ imaginations with over 1000 signing up to take part prior to the competition’s launch this week. The Duchess of Cornwall is Patron of the National Literacy Trust, the charity running the competition in partnership with Oxford University Press and has leant her support to the competition.
Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall, Patron of the National Literacy Trust said:
“As Patron of the National Literacy Trust I am delighted that the Big Diamond Jubilee Read competition has chosen the Royal Family’s Tour of the Commonwealth to inspire children to read and write.
“I do hope you all enjoy the challenge of reading your way round the classroom map and following the journeys we make. I am sure you will also benefit enormously from your own voyage of discovery through the world of books.”
The competition responds to new research from the National Literacy Trust published today.*
National Literacy Trust Director, Jonathan Douglas said:
“Our research found that children who enjoy writing very much are eight times more likely to write above the expected level for their age. We hope the competition will tap into the excitement around the Diamond Jubilee to get more children enjoying reading and writing.
“We also found that nearly half of young people (48%) think being good at writing will get them a better job. At a time when a record number of young people are unemployed the competition could help children to build vital skills for their future.”
Jessica Tomlinson, Literacy Coordinator at Manchester Academy, which has already signed up to take part in the competition, said:
“The Big Diamond Jubilee Read looks absolutely amazing.
I’m sure they will love this; it is an excellent way of encouraging them to read. They especially like learning about the Royal Family so this will also benefit our school.
We look forward to launching it with all the fantastic resources!”
Competition prizes include a winner’s certificate personally signed by Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall, book vouchers (worth £50) and a family day out (worth up to £75) for the winning pupils. Their schools will receive £500 worth of books, courtesy of Oxford University Press (Diamond Reader competition), a writing workshop with a children’s author – courtesy of Oxford University Press (Diamond Writer competition) and a 12 month PRO account with Radiowaves, the award-winning safe social learning platform.
The competition is open to all UK primary schools and secondary schools (Years 7-9), as well as schools around the world.
To take part and find out more visit www.literacytrust.org.uk/competitions
Ends.
Notes to Editors
* C. Clark: Young People’s Writing in 2011, National Literacy Trust, April 2012
** The main competition prizes are only eligible to UK schools
