Glasgow primary schools gifted book sets as part of Duchess of Cornwall’s 70th birthday celebrations

TWO Glasgow primary schools now have a selection of brand new books in their library as part of the Duchess of Cornwall’s 70th birthday celebrations.

Aultmore Park and Highpark Primary Schools have been gifted a set of 70 brand new children’s books as well as specially designed bookshelves for the new school year.

The schools are among 70 across the UK to be given the donations by six literacy-focused organisations in celebration of the Duchess turning 70.

She is passionate about children’s literacy and is Patron of the charities and organisations involved in the Duchess’s Bookshelves project – the National Literacy Trust, Beanstalk, BookTrust, First Story, Roald Dahl Literary Estate and the Wicked Young Writer Awards.

Aultmore Park Primary School and Highpark Primary School were both nominated by the National Literacy Trust for their engaged and enthusiastic approach to the Young Readers Programme, which promotes reading for enjoyment.

National Literacy Trust Director Jonathan Douglas said: “Our Patron HRH The Duchess of Cornwall is passionate about children’s literacy, so what better way to celebrate this milestone birthday than by helping more children to discover the joys of reading.

“We hope the Duchess’s Bookshelves will inspire even more pupils at Aultmore Park and Highpark primary schools  to enjoy reading and read more widely, which our research shows has an important impact on their attainment.”

Andrea Gurd, a teacher at Aultmore Park, was delighted to receive the gift.

She said: “We were thrilled with the quality and variety of books sent. We have decided to use these as a class resource, so that teachers can come and choose a book to read for their class, then the class will leave a comment for others to read.”

Highpark teacher Janis Vanderflier added: “”The children at Highpark Primary have become so much more aware of different genres of fiction and really appreciated having a selection of new books to read and review for their peers. There is a real reading culture in the school now.”

The books in the set were chosen after primary schools across the country nominated the books they love and would like to give as a present. The list includes a wide range to suit all ages and interests – from classics like A Bear Called Paddington and Matilda to new titles including Gangsta Granny and Diary of a Wimpy Kid. The books have been kindly donated by publishers.

The Duchess was presented with a set of the 70 books on the special bookshelves at a garden party at Clarence House in July, joined by top children’s authors Malorie Blackman, Lauren Child, Cressida Cowell, Charlie Higson, David Walliams and Jacqueline Wilson.

Many of the books are included in key sponsor Renaissance Learning’s Accelerated Reader programme, which tests pupils’ reading comprehension with fun, motivational quizzes. The specially-designed bookshelves were donated by Peters.