Ogbourne CofE and Lambourn CofE Primaries are National Read-Aloud Challenge champs

Ogbourne CofE and Lambourn CofE Primary Schools are immensely proud of their success in the National Read-Aloud Challenge. Ogbourne has been declared winner of the Small Schools Category while Lambourn has achieved runner-up in the South East category. Year 3 student Lambourn student, Lola, received a Highly Commended award, despite an incredible 10,000 children taking part. Both schools are part of the Excalibur Academies Trust which has been awarded Multi Academy Trust of the Year. Ogbourne will now be heading to London in January to attend the special Awards Ceremony at Amazon HQ and to meet Clare Balding CBE. 

Lucy Crump, Principal of Ogbourne CofE Primary School commented, “The Reading Aloud challenge was a great way to get children engaged in and help to promote a love of reading. It was also a brilliant way for the children to practise their fluency skills. We are really proud of all the children who took part and are delighted to have won the small schools prize.”

The National Read-Aloud Challenge is free and involves the use of an award winning Fonetti app with a wide range of factual and fictional books, designed to build confidence and foster a love for reading. During the summer holidays, Excalibur children threw themselves into the challenge with a collective 284 hours spent immersed in other worlds.

Maria Cupit, Principal of Lambourn CofE Primary School commented, “We are immensely proud of the children who engaged with the Fonetti Summer National Read Aloud Challenge. 90 pupils registered, 51 were active throughout the summer and 24 hit the national leaderboard. The children completed 165 reading hours, 1,988 books were read with an average of 39 books per pupil. This all contributes to reducing summer reading regression. Well done everyone!”

Students and parents enjoyed the Read-Aloud Challenge:

Sidney: “It was a really good thing to do as you don’t get bored as the books are different. I like finishing whole books until the end.”

 Izzy: “You can do it at any age and find books for every age. So many new and interesting ones to choose from!”

Mrs Allen, a parent, said, “My child engaged very well with the challenge and wanted to read more and more. He especially enjoyed being able to meet the milestones. It was great that he could independently choose the books to read.”

Nick Lewis, CEO of Excalibur Academies Trust added, “As a Trust which places great emphasis on, and encouragement for, the love for reading we are absolutely thrilled with these awards. They recognise considerable hard work and speaks volumes about the expertise we have within the Trust. A huge well done to Ogbourne CofE Primary and Lambourn CofE Primary for their outstanding efforts.”

Vicki Edgar, Head of Customer Success at Fonetti concludes: “We were particularly impressed with the high levels of independent reading and the enthusiasm shown by the children at Excalibur, and in particular Ogbourne CofE and Lambourn CofE primaries. At a time when at-home reading engagement is reportedly at an all-time low, it’s inspiring to see these students embracing the joy of reading with such enthusiasm.”