A PRIMARY school near Cirencester hosted a week-long reading festival to start the new academic year with a bang. 

Pupils at Stratton Church of England Primary School enjoyed a jam-pack week of activities which included an escape room and visits from a local author and Tweedy the clown.

This festival was dreamt up by teacher Barbara Cartwright and parent Kate Morgan-Evans and was funded by a grant from the Blue Spark Foundation.

The festivities commenced with a visit from Lady Bathurst who read some her favourite stories during a special assembly and also talked about The National Foundation for Retired Service Animals charity which she founded. 

Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard: Lady Bathurst talking to pupils at Stratton Primary SchoolLady Bathurst talking to pupils at Stratton Primary School (Image: Kate Morgan-Evans)

An audience of excited children were then treated to a display from the Gloucestershire Police Dogs Section.

Later on in the week, author Tom Percival delighted pupils with a fast-paced assembly featuring stories and ideas from his Big Bright Feelings Collection and was on hand to share his top tips on crafting stories and creating characters.

Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard: Tom Percival with a Stratton Primary School pupilTom Percival with a Stratton Primary School pupil (Image: Kate Morgan-Evans)

On Wednesday, September 13 the school hall was transformed into an escape room and pupils were invited to find clues, complete tasks and solve a variety of reading related puzzles.

Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard: Escape room puzzles Escape room puzzles (Image: Kate Morgan-Evans)

Throughout the week parents got involved in a series of Breakfasts with a Book and enjoyed story time with their children alongside pastries and fruit which were donated by Tesco Extra Cirencester.

Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard: Pupil and parent enjoying the reading breakfasts Pupil and parent enjoying the reading breakfasts (Image: Kate Morgan-Evans)

On Friday, September 15 squeals of laughter could be heard all over Stratton village when Giffords Circus visited the school.

Tweedy the clown took time out of his hectic schedule to entertain pupils and staff. 

Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard: Story telling picnic Story telling picnic (Image: Kate Morgan-Evans)
 
The festival ended with a story telling picnic, featuring a range of special guests including Cirencester mayor Sabrina Dixon, local postie Jen McNeil, the Forest Green Rovers' mascot Neville the Green Devil and Lisa Saunders, storyteller from Cirencester Library.  

Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard: Cirencester mayor Sabrina Dixon reading a book to pupils at Stratton Primary SchoolCirencester mayor Sabrina Dixon reading a book to pupils at Stratton Primary School (Image: Kate Morgan-Evans)

Teacher Barbara Cartwright said: "We know that engagement with reading is the single biggest indicator of life chances. 

"That is why at Stratton reading is top of our agenda - even the children know that it is the most important thing they will learn at school.

"Given its value, we want the children to not just be able to read, but also to love to read. 

"We wanted to start this academic year with a reading bang, so we have put on our very own reading festival to reinforce this message."