A summer school to improve local children's literacy levels has been a success.

The summer literacy scheme at Keighley's Greenhead Grammar School has been helping youngsters improve their reading and writing skills.

Greenhead liaised with its feeder middle schools, who selected students they believed would benefit form the extra tuition. Thirty pupils from Swire Smith, Calversyke, Highfield and Grange took part in the scheme, which was centred on making tuition as enjoyable as possible.

As well as periods of study, there were also extended activities for the youngsters, including visits to the cinema and theatre. Each of the students produced reviews based on shows and movies they they had seen and, equipped with a camera, they kept a photographic record of their work.

Marilyn Boyd, literacy co-ordinator at Greenhead, says the scheme has been an overwhelming success. "The students have worked extremely hard," she says. "And the attendance has been brilliant. Thirty students started the course and we only lost two. The remaining 28 had virtually a 100 per cent record.

"It was hard work for everyone but very enjoyable, and although some of the pupils were a bit nervous to begin with their confidence has grown every day."

Marilyn was helped by Rachel Kidd, who assisted with the language teaching, as well as Helen Piercy and Mussarat Hussain, who worked as reading support assistants.

Proud parents went to Greenhead on Tuesday to see their children receive certificates from Keighley News editor Malcolm Hoddy. After the presentation, the children read reviews and critiques on Les Miserables and Godzilla.

Funding for the summer literacy scheme has come from central government. The scheme has also received support and sponsorship from local businesses, including Willis Walker, Morrisons, Hollywood Bowl and Peter Black distribution which donated school bags and equipment to each student. The students hard work was justly rewarded with a fun day out to Lightwater Valley theme park.

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