Excalibur Academies Trust, which oversees a number of Bristol schools, is immensely proud to be awarded MAT of the Year in the National Read-Aloud Challenge, despite an impressive 550 schools and 10,000 children taking part.
The National Read-Aloud Challenge is free and involves the use of an award winning Fonetti app with a wide range of factual and fictional books, designed to build confidence and foster a love for reading. During the summer holidays, Excalibur children threw themselves into the challenge with a collective 284 hours spent immersed in other worlds.
Nick Lewis, CEO of Excalibur Academies Trust, commented, “As a Trust which places great emphasis on, and encouragement for, the love for reading we are absolutely thrilled to receive this award. It recognises considerable hard work and speaks volumes about the expertise we have within the Trust.”
Vicki Edgar, Head of Customer Success at Fonetti, added, “We were particularly impressed with the high levels of independent reading and the enthusiasm shown by the children at Excalibur Academies Trust. At a time when at-home reading engagement is reportedly at an all-time low, it’s inspiring to see these students embracing the joy of reading with such enthusiasm.”