ALT : 'Pop-Up Literacy Project'

The Active Learning Trust, in partnership with Pop Up Projects, has launched its new literacy project – the first of its kind for schools in Cambridgeshire.

The Trust’s Cambridgeshire Hub, including nine of its schools within the region, is beginning its journey with charity organisation, Pop Up Projects, to bring literacy to life. The project’s launch event took place on 26^th March, where teachers from nine schools attended practical workshops to learn more about the project.

Anne Robertson, Cambridgeshire Hub Standards Adviser at The Active Learning Trust, said: “We’re all so excited for the launch of the Active Learning Trust Cambridgeshire Hub and Pop Up literacy project. The project will bring in a variety of talented authors and illustrators to work with teachers within our schools, helping to put even more excitement into the way that children approach literature.”

Pop Up Projects has links with talented professionals within the industry and will organise visits from authors and illustrators into the schools. For each year of the three-year programme, a literacy festival will be held for the Active Learning Trust Cambridgeshire Hub students. 

Anne continued: "The launch event for our teachers was really well received! Attendees on the day benefited from practical workshops held by a professional author and an illustrator to enhance their literacy teaching methods. These practical tips, along with the vision of bringing literacy to life within the Active Learning Trust schools, has created a passionate energy for the project as a whole."

Gary Peile, Chief Executive of The Active Learning Trust, said: "The Active Learning Trust is committed to develop the leadership, management and governance in all our schools so that we grow and maintain the best leaders and act as a “Training School” network to grow the next generation of effective teachers and school leaders. The Pop Up literacy project ensures we are providing creative and engaging lessons so that all pupils and students maximise their potential for learning."

Saul Argent, Education Manager, Pop Up Projects, said: "We are very excited to be bringing nine Active Learning Trust Cambridgeshire schools into our National Festival for three years. Our induction event is a chance to meet the teachers of the classes involved, and for them to get new ideas to use in the classroom from workshops run by exceptional children's writers and illustrators."

Saul continued: “The Pop Up literacy project within Cambridgeshire aligns with our vision for a more literate, creative society - where reading, writing and storytelling are widely valued, enjoyed, practiced and celebrated. We work collaboratively with educational, literary and cultural organisations to enable children, empower teachers, and engage families from all walks of life to read more widely, write more creatively, and develop visual storytelling skills.”

The project is set to run over three years in schools across the Active Learning Trust's Cambridgeshire Hub, which involves secondary schools: Cromwell Community College, Littleport & East Cambridgeshire Academy, Neale-Wade Academy; primary schools: Burrowmoor Primary School, Chesterton Primary School, Isle of Ely Primary School, Kingsfield Primary School; and special schools: Highfield Littleport and Highfield Ely.