Woodside School achieves a Scottish first with national literacy award nomination

28 November 2016

Woodside School has become the first school in Scotland ever to be shortlisted for the prestigious UK Literary Association (UKLA) Literary School of the Year Award 2017 it was announced today (Monday 28 November).

The school has made the shortlist Roll of Honour of only four schools - the others comprising two from London and one from Bristol - for the award which celebrates schools providing rich, exciting, innovative curriculums in English whilst achieving good outcomes for their pupils.

The winner will be announced on 1 July next year at the UKLA International Conference being held at the University of Strathclyde.

Elaine Page, Depute Head Teacher at Woodside School said: We are thrilled to be nominated for this award. All the staff and pupils have worked exceptionally hard to raise the profile of literacy at Woodside Primary and we are delighted that all our efforts have been recognised by the UKLA.

“Our current priority is community and parental engagement and through parent workshops, literacy events and social media we continue to share the excellent work that is going on in our school.”

The school has been shortlisted for its innovative approach to literacy which includes a Reading Olympics, monthly book swaps, author visits and engagement with parents through Twitter and blogs.

Woodside School has also taken an active role in sharing practice with colleagues throughout Aberdeen City by sharing examples of their work with ‘Reflective Reading’ on Aberdeen City Council’s sharing good practice web site and having a Literacy Coordinator who is also a member of the city’s Literary Strategic Group

Councillor Angela Taylor, Education and Children’s Services Committee Convener said: “This is an amazing coup for both Woodside Primary School and the city of Aberdeen.

We are immensely proud of our work around literacy and the work that is being undertaken in individual schools.

“Only last week I attended a book launch of novels written by the Primary 5 pupils at Woodside School and their work was of such an impressive standard and everyone, including the children and staff were so engaged it was wonderful to see.

“It’s wonderful that their work has been recognised by UKLA and to be one of only four schools across the entire UK to make the Roll of Honour is an immense achievement.”