Sixth formers help young readers to learn

A PRIMARY school is celebrating its link with sixth formers who have been helping young pupils develop a love of reading.

Glenfrome Primary School in Eastville has been welcoming Year 12 and 13 students from Collegiate School in Stapleton, formerly Colston's School, for more than eight years.

They also help children with maths and science and have helped tidy the school grounds.

The sixth formers work with pupils each week to help them practise their reading, and are trained by the school's reading specialist teacher Claire Banham, who said: "The Collegiate sixth formers enjoy volunteering, some of them using the experience as part of the Duke of Edinburgh award. "This means that both primary pupils and the sixth formers gain from working together.

"Our younger pupils enjoy working with the older students who also provide great role models to them.

"The sixth formers are always a pleasure to have around the school. Even during lockdown they wanted to support Glenfrome children by recording themselves reading stories for them to enjoy whilst at home."

Head teacher Inger O'Callaghan said: "At

Children learn on board

CHILDREN from Minerva Primary Academy in Hillfields found out more about Victorian and their impact on the modern world when they visited the SS Great Britain.

The Year 2 pupils took part in workshops, enjoyed dressing up, and had a guided tour of Isambard Kingdom Brunel's famous ship.

They found out about the different conditions on board for rich and poor passengers, and livestock.

Year 2 teachers Slaney Mitchell and Laura McGuinness said: "The interactive nature of the ship meant that the living conditions could be experienced first-hand. Pupils particularly enjoyed dressing in Victorian clothes to take part in a mock launching of the ship.They found out that there were cows, pigs, horses and chickens on the ship, which were used for food, but were very smelly! We gathered lots of knowledge about travel, trade, and industry to help us understand how Victorian inventions impact on our lives today.”

Glenfrome we believe it is vital to develop a love of reading from an early age. It is the key that unlocks the whole of our rich and diverse curriculum. "We teach our children these skills though a variety of ways and part of this means we welcome volunteers from across the community.

"The sixth formers build good relationships with the children, and they are a brilliant addition to our school.

"Long may this partnership continue!"