Pupils at The Academy of Cuxton Schools have really got the reading bug as Pine Class have been named literacy champions for their involvement in Buster’s Book Club.

The Medway primary school class were top for home reading and were awarded with 30 ice skating vouchers for Silver Blades ice rink, Gillingham.

Wayne Clayton, English Leader at The Academy of Cuxton Schools, said: “Buster’s Book Club has been a fantastic way to motivate our children to read; particularly the boys. Ideally we’d want all pupils to be intrinsically motivated to read, but we know they don’t always start that way. What the scheme has managed so successfully is getting our children to see the value of books, and the enjoyment from reading them.”

This year Buster’s Book Club has smashed all previous records for home reading minutes this academic year, reaching a huge 2.8 million across Kent, Medway and Bexley.

The reading initiative devised by the KM Charity Team is backed by a number of organisations including Kent Reliance, Mini Babybel, Golding Homes, Wildwood Trust, Countrystyle Recycling, Specsavers, Circle House Russet, Whitefriars Canterbury, Orbit, 3Rs teacher recruitment, Kent County Council, Ashford Borough Council and Bexley Council.

Amie Snowden of Kent Reliance was quick to comment on the success of the scheme. “Buster’s Book Club continues to go from strength-to-strength, and this year’s massive home reading minutes figure is proof of this. Developing young people’s reading, writing, listening and speaking skills is something most vital, and schools involved with Buster’s Book Club are evidently benefitting from these literacy boosts,” she said.

Schools can still sign up to take part in Buster’s Book Club for next term. The initiative sets a reading target by year group and provide incentives for the children including prizes for star readers and a class of the week trophy.

Inter-school reading challenges reward the best or most improved classes with prizes including storyteller visits, hampers of books, and tickets to Kent attractions Leeds Castle and Silver Blades ice rink.

For information on how your school can get involved, visit www.bustersbookclub.co.uk or call the KM Charity Team on 0844 264 0291