Rugby Reading Champions is Fylde Rugby Community Foundation’s literacy programme, designed to inspire a love of reading, writing and learning among primary school children. Using the values of rugby alongside engaging educational activities, the programme helps pupils develop confidence, communication skills and develop a positive attitude towards literacy both inside and outside the classroom.
Fylde Rugby Community Foundation recently welcomed 170 pupils from seven local primary schools to Fylde Rugby Club for its latest Rugby Reading Champions Festival, celebrating literacy, creativity and learning through the power of rugby.
The festival brought together children from Newton Bluecoat CE Primary School, Weeton St Michael’s Primary School, Weeton Barracks Primary School, Holy Family Catholic Primary School, Medlar-with-Wesham Church of England Primary School, Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Primary School and St John Vianney’s Catholic Primary School for a day packed with engaging and educational activities.
Throughout the day, pupils rotated around a variety of interactive workshops hosted across the rooms at Fylde Rugby Club, each designed to encourage creativity, communication, confidence and a love of learning.
A major highlight of the festival was the BAE Systems STEM Trailer, which gave children the opportunity to explore the exciting world of science, technology, engineering and mathematics through hands-on activities and interactive demonstrations. The trailer is designed to inspire young minds, introduce real-world applications of STEM subjects and encourage pupils to think creatively about future careers and opportunities.
Paul Earnshaw, Head of Communications, BAE Systems, said:
“At BAE Systems, we’re passionate about inspiring the next generation and helping young people discover the exciting opportunities that STEM can offer. It was fantastic to see so many children engaging with the activities on our STEM Trailer, asking questions and exploring new ideas. Working alongside Fylde Rugby Community Foundation through the Rugby Reading Champions programme allows us to support learning in a fun, interactive way, and we’re proud to play a part in helping children build confidence, curiosity and aspirations for the future.”
Children also had the opportunity to work with local author David Brayley, who shared insights into the writing process and inspired pupils to explore their own creativity through storytelling.
Creative writing sessions were delivered by Peter Brookes, encouraging children to develop their imagination, communication skills and confidence in expressing their ideas through the written word.
Meanwhile, Jonathan from Loud Speaker delivered engaging activities focused on communication, confidence and self-expression, helping pupils to build valuable skills both inside and outside the classroom.
The Rugby Reading Champions programme uses rugby as a vehicle to promote literacy, reading enjoyment and personal development, supporting young people to build confidence and develop a positive relationship with learning.
Ben Turner, Programme Lead at Fylde Rugby Community Foundation, said:
“The Rugby Reading Champions Festival was a fantastic celebration of everything the programme stands for. It was brilliant to see 170 children from across the Fylde Coast come together, engage with the activities and embrace the opportunities available throughout the day.
The enthusiasm shown by the pupils was incredible, and events like this demonstrate how powerful learning can be when it’s delivered in an engaging and interactive way. We’d like to thank all of our partners, workshop leaders and schools for helping make the day such a success.”
Fylde Rugby Community Foundation would like to extend its sincere thanks to Newton Bluecoat CE Primary School, Weeton St Michael’s Primary School, Weeton Barracks Primary School, Holy Family Catholic Primary School, Medlar-with-Wesham Church of England Primary School, Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Primary School and St John Vianney’s Catholic Primary School for taking part and embracing the festival with such enthusiasm.
The Foundation would also like to thank BAE Systems for their continued sponsorship of the Rugby Reading Champions programme and for bringing their inspiring STEM Trailer to the event, helping create a memorable and educational experience for every child involved.
