Reading Teachers = Reading Pupils
Reading Teachers = Reading Pupils is a Cheltenham Festivals programme delivered in partnership with like-minded organisations across the UK including Bradford Literature Festival, Centre for Literacy in Primary Education (CLPE), Just Imagine, National Literacy Trust, KEAP (The Writers’ Block), Peters, Seven Stories the National Centre for Children’s Books and The Reader.
Set up in 2016, the national network of teachers reading groups aims to inspire reading for pleasure because research shows that children who read for pleasure experience high levels of well-being, engage in learning and are successful in life.
The Writers’ Block will be hosting a primary RTRP programme led by Amanda Harris – Director of The Writers’ Block.
Debut author Kirsty Applebaum’s book The Middler was one of five books studied this academic
year by more than 100 teachers across the country. She said: “There is something very special about
the books we read when we are children – they embed themselves into our hearts and sprinkle
magic over the rest of our lives. I was overjoyed, then, when my debut children’s novel was selected
for the Cheltenham Festivals’ Reading Teachers=Reading Pupils 2019/20 – and my joy only increased
as I discovered what an amazing programme this is. I have been moved to tears on more than one
occasion by testimonials from teachers who, through RT=RP, have developed a love of reading and
been empowered to pass that love of reading on to their pupils. It is an immense honour for my
very first book to be part of this RT=RP magic.”
Catherine Stokes, Head of UK and Export Sales and Marketing at children’s publisher Nosy Crow
said: “Reading Teachers=Reading Pupils is brilliant, engaging and impactful. The programme has
added huge support to our incredibly talented debut author Kirsty Applebaum and has facilitated
and empowered her to engage directly with readers. RT=RP is opening up a brand-new network of
influential champions who are passionate about sharing new, exciting and, very possibly, previously
undiscovered books with children and their parents, the value of which cannot be underestimated
as a children’s publisher.”
Books studied this year are The Middler by Kirsty Applebaum, The Boy at the Back of the Class by
Onjali Rauf, Bone Talk by Candy Gourlay, The London Eye Mystery by Siobhan Dowd and Mirror by
Jeannie Baker.
Cheltenham Festivals was awarded a grant of £127,608 from Arts Council England to expand its
Reading Teachers = Reading Pupils programme nationally. A further four partners are set to come
on board in academic year 2021/22, with the aim of supporting around 400 teachers and reaching
nearly 29,000 children in every part of the UK by 2022.
Reading Teachers=Reading Pupils is supported by Arts Council England, The Thirty Percy
Foundation, The Summerfield Charitable Trust and The Unwin Charitable Trust.
About Cheltenham Festivals
Cheltenham Festivals is a charity which produces innovative, world-class content across science and
the arts. Its participation programmes reach out year-round and culminate at the internationallyacclaimed Jazz, Science, Music and Literature Festivals.
About the Partners
The Centre for Literacy in Primary Education (CLPE) is an independent UK charity dedicated to
raising the literacy achievement of children by putting quality literature at the heart of all learning.
It is a charity with a national and international reputation for providing excellent literacy training
and resources for primary schools, based on extensive research and best practice. www.clpe.org.uk
Peters is the UK’s leading specialist book supplier to schools, academies, public libraries and school
library services. It has a team of Librarians and Curriculum Specialists and an unrivalled showroom in
central Birmingham holding over 40,000 individual fiction and non-fiction children’s titles. Peters
are proud sponsors of the Great School Libraries campaign and are the official book suppliers for
the Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Awards and the Read for Empathy book collections.
www.peters.co.uk
Just Imagine was established in 2010 by Nikki Gamble, a former teacher, university lecturer and
writer. The consultancy works extensively with schools in the UK and internationally to develop
outstanding reading and writing schools, where stories and literature are placed firmly at the heart
of learning. www.justimagine.co.uk
Seven Stories is The National Centre for Children’s Books – the only place in Britain dedicated to
saving, celebrating and sharing our rich literary heritage for children. Seven Stories’ home is a
carefully converted listed warehouse in Newcastle upon Tyne in North East England. The museum
opened in 2005 and visitors can explore seven floors of galleries, creative spaces, a specialist
children’s bookshop and a café. www.sevenstories.org.uk
Bradford Literature Festival began in 2014 to create a cultural and literary extravaganza celebrating
the written and spoken word. The festival curates an atmospheric blend of voices, combining the
work of leading writers, performers and poets with emerging talent. In 2019, over 400 events took
place across 10 days, capturing the hearts and imaginations of more than 50,000 people.
www.bradfordlitfest.co.uk
KEAP (The Writers Block) is an arts education charity set up in 2001 by Arts Council England in
partnership with Cornwall Council. Working closely with artists, performers and writers, KEAP
creates immersive experiences for primary and secondary schools, education providers, community
groups and a wide range of cultural organisations. The Writers’ Block is an immersive, creative
writing space on the Cornwall College campus in Camborne.
National Literacy Trust is dedicated to improving the reading, writing, speaking and listening skills
of those who need it most, giving them the best possible chance of success in school, work and life.
The charity runs Literacy Hubs and campaigns in communities where low literacy is seriously
impacting people’s lives; supports nurseries, schools and colleges to deliver outstanding literacy
provision; and campaigns to make literacy a priority for politicians, businesses and parents. The
charity’s research and analysis make it the leading authority on literacy in the UK.
www.literacytrust.org.uk
The Reader is a national charity that wants to bring about a Reading Revolution, so that everyone
can experience and enjoy great literature. Through a growing movement of 1,000 volunteers and
partners, it brings thousands of people together each week to share and discuss great novels, short
stories and poems. www.thereader.org.uk
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