Kettering primary selected to help judge prestigious book prize

A Kettering school has been chosen to form a judging panel that will help decide the winner of a top prize.

Grange Primary Academy have been chosen as one of only 500 schools across the country to judge the Royal Society's Young People's Book Prize 2020.

The aim of the prize is to bring science and literacy together to inspire young people across the country to read about science and promote the writing of excellent and accessible books for under 14s.

They have been tasked with creating a judging panel comprised of year five and six children who will each have to read six science books over next term and comment on what they like and dislike about the books. They will then award marks for each book which will be added to the national scores to decide on a winner.

The shortlist was selected by an adult judging panel, chaired by Professor Mike Kendall FRS, including Cressida Cowell, the Waterstones Children’s Laureate and author-illustrator of the How to Train Your Dragon books, and former Blue Peter presenter and author Konnie Huq.

Headteacher Chris Latimer said: "Science plays a huge part in our curriculum here at Grange Primary. Last year we were nationally recognised for this and now to be chosen by The Royal Society to help judge their Young People's Book Prize is a huge honour."