Ali Sparkes, author of award winning 鈥楾he Shapeshifter鈥� series of children鈥檚 books visited BU to help local school children celebrate their graduation from the BU 鈥楤ooks & Stories鈥� programme. The special graduation event took place on Talbot campus on Wednesday 28 February 2024.聽
All 63 graduating pupils from the programme got a chance to meet author Ali Sparkes and talk about the book they had been reading throughout the 10-week 鈥楤ooks & Stories鈥欌�� programme, 鈥楾he Night Speakers鈥� in a specially designed presentation run by the author. They also got to hear about her new book 鈥�100 Summers鈥� and attend a book signing session, where they could ask her questions.聽Ali Sparkes said: 鈥淚t鈥檚 so lovely to see children excited about reading, it鈥檚 such an important thing in their lives, and having people around them, to encourage them and help them to understand that is absolutely crucial.鈥澛�
According to the Education Policy Institute (EPI) disadvantaged children remain on average nearly 11 months behind in their learning at the end of primary school (EPI study in 2022). Each year the BU 鈥楤ooks & Stories鈥� programme partners with local schools across Dorset to select pupils to attend the programme. The aim is to achieve demonstrable improvement in the reading ability of Year 6 pupils and advance their confidence in and attitudes towards reading.
The local schools involved in this year鈥檚 鈥楤ooks & Stories鈥� programme included:聽
- Bayside Academy聽
- Manorside Academy聽
- Ocean Academy聽
- Jewell Academy聽
- Twynham Secondary聽
- The Grange聽
This year the 鈥楤ooks & Stories鈥� programme consisted of carefully structured workshops and reading sessions that were tailored to meet pupils鈥� needs. Each 30-minute guided reading exercise is followed by a series of interactive sessions to help improve reading comprehension and literacy skills. The sessions were delivered during school time by BU staff, with support from BU student ambassadors.聽
Libbi Hammond, BU鈥檚 Schools Liaison Manager, who helped organise the graduation event said: 鈥淭wynham and The Grange school delivered our 鈥楤ooks & Stories鈥� programme 鈥榠n-house鈥� with the programme delivered by eight of their sixth form students. BU staff visited the sixth formers to train them on how to deliver the programme and had the privilege of visiting them again a few weeks later when the programme was up and running to see how their sessions were going. It was wonderful to see how well and confidently they delivered the sessions.鈥澛�
Leanne Tucker, Principal at Bayside Academy, who brought along pupils to the graduation event said: 鈥淚t鈥檚 not just about the curriculum learning, it鈥檚 about showing them the possibilities of what they can achieve in the future. Our school is located on a council estate and so building the children's aspirations for the future, and opening possibilities and doors is one of the most important things we can do for them.鈥澛�
After the聽talk聽and book signing, the pupils were then led to a special gowning area on campus where they were invited to put on their graduation gowns in preparation for a gowning ceremony. The pupils took to the stage to collect their certificate and a professional photographer was hired for the event to capture their special moment.聽
For more information about the 鈥楤ooks & Stories鈥� programme at 成人直播, please email [email protected]听听
