I know what you’re thinking; not another reading initiative. But this one is different, I promise. It’s teacher-led, easy to implement, cheap as chips and has the ‘wow’ factor. It is called the Patron of Reading.
A patron is a published writer, poet, illustrator or storyteller who is invited by a particular school to be their special ‘patron’ for a mutually-agreed period. During that time, the writer works with the school to help create a buzz about reading. The tenure includes visits from the patron and various activities to keep the momentum going in-between events. Where the partnership works well, the bond formed between the pupils and their ‘special’ author is magical.
The initiative was started four years ago by primary head teacher Tim Redgrave who wanted to get away from the over-emphasis in the curriculum on testing and bring something fresh to the reading culture of his school. Having seen my workshops, he invited me to be his school’s first patron, feeling I would be a good fit with the ethos of Ysgol Esgob Morgan. I accepted immediately. The focus on reading and the opportunity to share ideas about books and reading was massively appealing.
Our combo of school plus author was a success from the start and the idea spread rapidly. There are now well over a hundred patrons in the UK in primary and secondary schools and feedback has been tremendous.
This from Jon Biddle, a primary school teacher in West Earlham, Norfolk: ‘The Patron of Reading initiative has massively boosted the profile of reading in our school. Our children cannot wait for John’s [writer John Dougherty] next visit and always get extremely excited whenever he sends a new video message or writes a blog post. Reading is starting to be seen across the school as a fun activity. The staff are all engaged with the initiative and enjoy preparing for, and following-up, John’s visits. Isolated author visits have a huge impact on children’s attitudes to reading but it is my view that regular visits by the same author, where they really get to know the school, children, staff and parents, have even more impact.’
Mandy Wilson, a librarian at Northfield Academy, a large secondary school in Aberdeen, is another fan. She’s harnessed the excitement generated by Northfield’s patrons, graphic novel duo ‘Metaphrog’, by starting a Graphic Novel Club. Like at West Earlham, the staff have totally got behind the idea and Mandy feels the partnership on all sides is evolving into something ‘truly great.’
As for the patrons, like me they delight in ‘belonging’ to a particular school and making that ‘huge impact’ mentioned. Alan Macdonald praised the flexibility of the initiative because it has allowed him to go in ‘so many different directions’. Similarly Nicola Morgan, popular author of YA fiction and non-fiction titles such as ‘Blame my Brain’ was bowled over by Larbert High School’s plans for her tenure with them.
The English Department, for example, used Nicola’s expertise to set up an ‘Ask Nicola’ problem page on their website to help pupils deal with exam stress.
www.nicolamorgan.com/heartsong-blog/ great-young-writers-of-larbert-high-school/‘Foul Play’ author Tom Palmer came at it from a different angle by using pupils at Stewart Melville’s as sounding boards for his research tompalmer.co.uk/ finding-out-what-i-need-to-find-out/ while Y7 at Matt Dickinson’s school made a trailer for one of his books. The permutations are endless; the rewards – priceless. Try it.
For more information go to the Patron of Reading website: www.patronofreading.co.uk