Priti Patel MP launches her tenth Get Witham Reading campaign

The Witham MP, Priti Patel, has launched her annual school literacy campaign ‘Get Witham Reading 2021’.  Her campaign was first launched in 2012, when children’s literacy levels in the constituency fell below the national average, with 1 in 6 pupils leaving school without achieving the literacy of an 11 year old.  Get Witham Reading 2021 marks the tenth anniversary of the launch of the campaign and this year’s event will take place on Friday 9th July.

The campaign seeks to promote reading among children and young people whilst improving their literacy and other academic skills.  Get Witham Reading 2021 aims to build upon the work local schools are doing to improve literacy skills in the constituency, to celebrate pupils’ reading achievements, and promote the many joys and benefits of reading.  The hope is that this will inspire children and young people to read for pleasure at home, as well as at school.

In what is a bumper year, 13 schools across the Witham constituency have already signed up to take part in Get Witham Reading 2021.  They are: Chipping Hill Primary School, Lakelands Primary School, Kelvedon St. Mary’s Primary Academy, Feering Church of England Primary School, Rivenhall Church of England Primary School, Howbridge Church of England Junior School, St. Peter’s Church of England Primary School (Coggeshall), Tiptree Heath Primary School, St. Luke’s Church of England Primary School (Tiptree), Terling Church of England Primary School, Powers Hall Academy, Templars Academy and Silver End Academy.

In this year’s event, each school can choose their own theme and on 9th July, subject to Covid-19 rules at the time, Priti will call in to the participating schools and meet the children taking part.  In many cases, the schools decorate classrooms to match their chosen reading theme and Priti is always pleased to see for herself their very creative efforts.

Priti said: “It continues to be a pleasure and a privilege to hold this campaign every year and I am delighted that it has reached its tenth anniversary.  For me, there is no greater gift that you can give to a young person than the ability to read, particularly when it is for pleasure. Reading shouldn’t just be a tool for use in school, it should also be a route to escaping into and enjoying many other worlds and walks of life during leisure time.

“Get Witham Reading and the subsequent improvement in reading standards across the constituency is one of the most important achievements of my time as the MP for Witham and one of which I am very proud.  I would encourage more local schools to sign up for this year’s event – the more, the merrier!”

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