St Matthew’s celebrates success in summer reading challenge 

Mrs Sime, the headteacher of St Matthew’s Catholic Primary School, Clubmoor, initiated a reading challenge at the end of the academic year. The challenge, centred around ‘Reading in Diverse Places’, was to promote a love for reading and literacy among students.

Students were encouraged to read more widely and frequently, and this challenge aimed to instil good reading habits in students. Regular reading improves vocabulary, comprehension, and critical thinking skills. 

Spanning across all year groups, students and dedicated staff demonstrated unwavering enthusiasm in their pursuit of reading experiences in the most unconventional settings. From the sheer thrill of bouncy castles to the awe-inspiring beauty of Niagara Falls, participants left no stone unturned in their quest for extraordinary reading encounters. 

The school received heartfelt messages of motivation from Liverpool Football Club and acclaimed authors, along with uplifting video messages from authors Frank Cottrell-Boyce and Chris Duke. The school’s local MP, Dan Carden, and Mrs McCarthy, director of education at The Archdiocese of Liverpool, demonstrated their solidarity by participating in the challenge. 

The challenge also garnered active participation from staff and governors. The creativity and dedication displayed by educators made the selection of the best entries a challenging task. Some standout moments included Mrs Sime immersing herself in the suspense of “Jaws” and Canon Conor serenading Elvis’ songs of praise. 

The overarching goal of this challenge was to nurture and cultivate a deep love for reading among students. This initiative has laid the perfect foundation for the launch of the upcoming school library, where pupils will be enveloped in the enchanting world of literature, further aligning with the school’s mission to “Love, Learn, and Shine Together with Jesus.” 

St. Matthew’s Catholic Primary School extends its heartfelt appreciation to all participants, supporters, and well-wishers and is thrilled about the development of its new school library.