Chantry students take part in activities involving several major book awards. Year 9, 10 and 11 students volunteer to “shadow” the Carnegie Medal and Teen Book Awards; this involves them reading a shortlist of 6-8 titles recommended for the Awards. With the Carnegie Medal, students’ reviews are posted on an excellent website and they also participate in discussions not only here at Chantry but in a final meeting with other high school students.

Year 7 students are also involved, shadowing the Greenaway Medal Award, which is presented for the best illustrated book for young people. A team of our students take these books and consumer test them with Year 3 and 4 students at our feeder primary schools.  Although some of the books are aimed at very young children, others are aimed at KS2, so it makes for an interesting storytelling session.

Students who volunteer for these activities gain confidence and public speaking skills, but most importantly are introduced to some great new books by talented writers and illustrators.

And finally, we are involved with the Red House Book Award – the only book award for young people which is entirely chosen by young people themselves. Members of our Red House group (drawn from Years 8-13) read a selection of great new books on loan from the Red House Book Club throughout the year, and nominate books to go forward to the national shortlist. We then get copies of the shortlist and get together to pick our winners in three different age groups.

If you would like to find out more about any of these activities, talk to Mrs. Johnson. For information about current shortlists/winners, see the relevant websites below:

Teen Book Award - http://www.booktrusted.co.uk/news/index.php4?newsid=35
Carnegie and Greenaway Medals – www.ckg.org.uk
Red House Book Award – http://www.redhouse.co.uk