Portsmouth pupils get reading boost through The News challenge

All 368 children at Langstone Junior School in Copnor have signed up to the scheme, which encourages primary school pupils to boost their reading skills.

Schoolchildren at the primary school have so far ‘really enjoyed’ the project, learning all about politics, sports and issues in their city.

Oscar Burns, nine, is an avid Pompey fan and loves the sports coverage.

He said: ‘I enjoy reading about Pompey.

‘It really interests me and I love finding out more about the team.’

Heidi Giles, 10, has loved reading the inspirational stories in our Family Life section each week.

She said: ‘I find it really interesting as there are some illnesses I’ve never heard of and I find it inspiring to hear about what they’ve gone through.’

Fellow pupil Jack Wicken, nine, added: ‘I always go to the news section.

‘It’s really made me more aware of what’s going on in the city.

‘I definitely know more about Portsmouth than when I started the challenge.’

Stephne Wessels, an assistant headteacher at the school, said: ‘All the pupils are getting stuck into it and enjoying the challenge.

‘We’re getting lots of great feedback from them, which is good as we thought that it would be a great way to allow all the pupils to find out what’s going on in the city.’

The scheme, which is in association with The News Foundation, sees pupils, particularly those in Key Stage 2, receive their own Let’s Read activity book and a copy of The News delivered to the school once a week for six weeks.