Queen Margaret University (QMU), Edinburgh is set to welcome more than 550 senior school pupils from across Scotland to its popular Healthfest event, designed to inspire the next generation of healthcare professionals and support informed career choices.
Taking place TOMORROW Wednesday 17 June 2026, the festival-style event is aimed at pupils in S4 to S6. Now in its fourth year, Healthfest will see young people – many from schools in Scotland’s disadvantaged communities – take part in a programme of interactive workshops and campus experiences, providing valuable insight into a wide range of healthcare courses and careers.
With a strong focus on hands-on learning, pupils will have the opportunity to explore both well-known and lesser-known career roles within the health sector. These include occupational therapy, podiatry and speech and language therapy, alongside careers in radiography, paramedic science and nursing.
Suzanne Ewing, from Queen Margaret University’s Widening Participation and Outreach team, who has helped organise the event, said: “Healthfest has a real science festival feel, with lots of engaging, practical workshops for young people to get involved in.
“Activities range from using ultrasound technology to observe tongue movement during speech production, to CPR demonstrations delivered by paramedics, as well as sessions demonstrating foot injections to improve foot health and discussions around the psychology of food and eating.
“Pupils can also take part in bespoke campus tours, giving them a first-hand look at our specialist labs and clinical learning environments. This helps them understand what studying a healthcare degree at QMU is really like.”
Suzanne concluded: “Healthfest continues to grow in popularity because it opens pupils’ eyes to the wide variety of opportunities available within the health sector.
“Importantly, it supports them to make informed decisions about their future education and career pathways as they gain an insight into different professions and learn about the facilities and equipment that they would use as students on healthcare degree courses.
“In addition, it creates more equality of opportunity for Scotland’s young people – opening up the healthcare sector to a wider pool of young talent.”
Alongside the workshops, pupils can also enjoy creative activities including a themed photobooth, with props such as prosthetics, lab coats and masks, offering a fun and memorable element to the day.
QMU will host two sessions for schools to choose from: 10.00am–12.00pm and 12.30pm–2.30pm.
Schools interested in attending this widening participation healthcare festival can contact Suzanne Ewing E:Healthfestteam@qmu.ac.uk for further information.
The winners of the fourth annual Saroj Lal Awards were announced at an awards ceremony last week (Thursday 11 June) at the Edinburgh International Festival Hub.
Primary and secondary school pupils from across Edinburgh were acknowledged in three award categories: Proud to be me, How prejudice makes me feel and Artivism. This year over 250 pupils got involved in submitting a creative entry.
The awards invite nominations from schools highlighting work in any art form, from the written word to film or animation, inspired by the themes of equality, inclusion and diversity. Head teachers were also encouraged to nominate a staff team from their school for their creative and collaborative work around equalities.
The winners are:
Proud to be me – primary schools’ category: Nika Roi – P5 Bruntsfield Primary School
Proud to be me – secondary schools’ category: “This is Me!” and Choir – Pilrig Park School – a whole school project
How prejudice makes me feel – primary schools’ category: Lexi Armstrong – P7 Star of the Sea RC Primary School
How Prejudice makes me feel – secondary schools’ category: “Nothing About Us Without Us” – Kaimes School – Kaimes Media Class.
Artivism – primary schools’ category: “Roots to Rhythm” – Prestonfield Primary School – a whole school project
Artivism : secondary schools’ category: Salma Hassan – S2 Boroughmuir High School
Staff Awards
Currie Primary School – Emma Boag McGlynn and Frances Jack
Prestonfield Primary School – The Equalities Leadership Team
Bruntsfield Primary School – Donna English and Gillian Knust
Boroughmuir Secondary School – Erin Cowan
Saroj Lal was one of the first Asian women to teach in a Scottish primary school when she began her role at South Morningside Primary School in 1970.
Her many successes included being at the forefront of race relations during a period of immense political and social change, delivering anti-racism training and starting the first local authority interpreting and translating service in Edinburgh. Following her death in 2020, Saroj’s achievements in equality, women’s rights, education, and community work are being formally recognised.
Entries were judged by a panel of esteemed judges including: Saroj Lal’s son, Vineet Lal; Ethelinda Lashley-Scott, CEO of the Multi-Cultural Family Base (MCFB); Carol Tuzan, Wider Achievement & Lifelong Learning Manager (CLD youth and children’s work); and former Saroj Lal Award winner and student judge Jesudarasimi Omaoya, an S4 pupil at Castlebrae Community Campus.
Councillor James Dalgleish, Education, Children and Families Convener, hosted the awards and said: “Saroj Lal was a true inspiration, both in her trailblazing role at South Morningside Primary School and as a renowned campaigner for race relations and equality, and I’m delighted that her legacy lives on.
“Entries to this year’s awards demonstrate real creativity and feeling around the themes of equality, inclusion and diversity, and the calibre was extremely high. Well done to the winners and all those who submitted an entry.”
Vineet Lal said:“Once again, the calibre and creativity of entries has been incredible, with so much thought and consideration put into submissions. My thanks to all those who have got involved this year in creating artwork that challenges inequality.
“Saroj would be proud to see that the awards are now in their fourth year with even more children and young people getting involved. She was a pioneer in so many ways and we can all learn from how she stood up for what is right and championed inclusion, equality and anti-racism.”
More than 150 pupils from schools across Edinburgh came together yesterday (Thursday 11 June) for a violence prevention event, where they shared their views on safety, weapon carrying and what safer communities should look like.
Hosted by Fearless, the youth service of the charity Crimestoppers, in partnership with Police Scotland, the event took place at the Corn Exchange in Edinburgh.
It gave young people the chance to speak openly about the pressures they face, hear from expert partners, and help design messages and strategies they believe will resonate with their peers.
The event built on a previous Fearless and Police Scotland schools event on firework safety held in September 2025.
Feedback from the young people who took part helped shape the focus of this year’s programme, with pupils leading discussions on how to prevent violence and reduce weapon carrying.
Pupils will now take what they learned back into their schools and communities, helping to continue conversations about safety, choice and the impact of weapon carrying. Videos captured by young people during the day will also feature on Fearless Scotland’s social media channels, reaching hundreds of thousands of young people over the summer holidays.
Sessions on the day included:
* A session on the realities and impact of violence, followed by a creative workshop led by the Scottish Violence Reduction Unit and Police Scotland
* A social media workshop with Fearless, where young people created violence prevention messages and interviewed guests and peers
* Practical street first aid training with the Scottish Ambulance Service
* A session on the impact of antisocial behaviour with Lothian Buses
* Violence prevention input from Medics Against Violence, delivered in partnership with young people they work with
* Interactive sessions from Big Hearts Community Trust and Stellar Elevate exploring positive masculinity, online influence and knife crime
* A music workshop with Turn The Tables, giving young people the chance to create anti-violence music
Community Sport Hub and 6VT Edinburgh City Youth Café were also there to signpost young people to support, activities and positive opportunities they can get involved in over the summer.
Lisa Petrie, mum of John McNab, was also attended the event to speak to young people about John, the huge hole his death has left and the work she is doing in his memory.
Emily, a pupil from Craigroyston Community High School, attending the event said:“Today has been great, going around the different stations, learning more and also being listened to by all the organisations here.
“For me, hearing from John’s mum was really important. It wasn’t just someone talking to us who doesn’t understand – she’s actually been through the worst and has that real insight.
“It makes you realise that it doesn’t just affect the victim – it affects everyone around them too, people just like our own families.
“As young people, we all have a responsibility to work together and make good choices for our communities.
“You’ve got a choice – use your voice.”
Hannah, a fellow pupil added:“Often adults tell us about the consequences of crimes like this, but don’t always tell us what support is there. I think that’s been the best part of this event – seeing that there are organisations and adults who are actually here to help.
“For example, Fearless is a really important support for young people, giving them a way to report information about crime anonymously.
“You can see that the staff at Fearless don’t expect us to be perfect – they’re there to help, not judge, and to make sure we don’t end up in a bad situation. That really matters.”
Lyndsay McDade, Fearless Scotland Manager, said:“Violence prevention has to involve young people in a meaningful way. They understand what is happening in their schools, streets, group chats and communities better than anyone, and they often have the clearest ideas about what needs to change.
“Young people’s voices matter at every stage. If we want to prevent violence and respond to harm, we have to ask them what they think and genuinely listen to what they tell us. That is what today was all about.
“What matters now is that these conversations do not end when young people leave the room. The pupils who took part will go back to their schools and communities and help spread messages about safety and the impact of weapon carrying.
“We also want every young person to know that if they are worried about someone carrying a weapon or involved in violence, they can speak up to our charity 100% anonymously. No one will know who they are, but the information they share could help keep someone safe.
“We are incredibly grateful to Police Scotland and all of the partners who came together to make this event possible. Days like this show what can happen when young people are placed at the heart of prevention.”
Chief Superintendent David Robertson, Police Scotland Divisional Commander for Edinburgh, said:“Violence has a serious impact on individuals, families and communities, particularly our young people.
“Last year, Police Scotland launched Operation Stardrop to coordinate diversionary activity with partners, including Fearless, to address the root causes of violence and help safeguard children and young people from becoming involved in violent crime, either as victims or perpetrators.
“A key part of that work is creating opportunities like today’s event, where young people can share their views and help shape the way we respond.
“It is important to remember that most children and young people are not involved in violence, but we also know that carrying weapons can have devastating consequences. That is why meaningful partnership working and early engagement with young people are so important to keeping communities safe.”
City of Edinburgh, Council Leader Jane Meagher said:“There is no place for anti-social behaviour in Edinburgh, and that is why initiatives like the youth summit are so important.
“Following the success of last year’s event, I’m glad to see partners once again coming together with young people to have open and constructive conversations about community safety, the risks associated with weapon carrying, and what more can be done to create better neighbourhoods.
“The willingness of young people to engage with these important conversations is evident, and their voices are central to shaping solutions and helping us build a safer Edinburgh for everyone.”
Applications have opened for nationwide breakfast club awards, giving schools across Scotland the chance to win £1,000 for their breakfast club and be recognised at a special ceremony at the Houses of Parliament.
The Kellogg’s Breakfast Club Awards celebrate breakfast clubs up and down the country, recognising best practice and innovation among the thousands of breakfast clubs that take place at schools across the UK.
Applications are now open and close at midnight on Friday 29th June 2026. Schools are invited to share the work of their breakfast club and the teachers, support staff, volunteers and pupils who help children start the school day fuelled and ready to learn.
Andrew Ridge, Social Impact Manager at Kellogg’s, said:“We’ve been supporting breakfast clubs for nearly 30 years, so we understand the important role they play for children and families across the UK.
“Every morning, schools are creating safe, welcoming spaces where children can enjoy breakfast, build friendships and start the day ready to learn. The positive impact these clubs have is made possible by the passion and commitment of the teachers, support staff and volunteers behind them.
“That is why, over the last fifteen years, Kellogg’s has been proud to celebrate the amazing work that goes into breakfast clubs across the country through our awards. We are looking forward to hearing from schools again this year and recognising the people and pupils who help make these clubs so special.”
This year, Kellogg’s will recognise winners across eight award categories, including six regional awards for Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, South England, Central England and North England.
New for 2026, the Breakfast Club Star Award will recognise an extraordinary pupil who consistently shows enthusiasm, kindness and commitment at their breakfast club, helping to create a positive, welcoming and supportive start to the day for others.
As part of the application process, schools will be asked to put forward a pupil they feel deserves to be named a Breakfast Club Star. The winning pupil will be named at the awards and invited to share their personal thoughts on what breakfast clubs mean to them.
Each category winner will receive a £1,000 cash grant to spend on their school breakfast club, helping them to enhance their provision, invest in new equipment, activities or resources, and continue creating a welcoming space for children at the start of the day.
The Kellogg’s Breakfast Club Awards typically receive more than 500 applications from schools across every corner of the UK, with entries highlighting the important role breakfast clubs play in supporting children’s wellbeing, attendance, learning and social development.
Winners will be revealed at a ceremony at the Houses of Parliament on Wednesday 18th November 2026, where schools will have the opportunity to share their stories in front of MPs and leading industry figures.
Kellogg’s has been supporting breakfast clubs for 28 years and since 1998, has donated more than £7 million to schools across the UK as part of its efforts to alleviate hunger and help provide children with the start they need to be fuelled and ready to learn.
Previous winners include Southbury Primary School in Enfield, which was named Kellogg’s Breakfast Club of the Year 2025, and Stranraer Academy in Scotland, which was recognised for the outstanding impact of its breakfast club on pupils and families.
Last year’s judging panel included Andrew Ranger, MP for Wrexham, Helen Hayes, MP for Dulwich and West Norwood, Professor Greta Defeyter OBE and Greggs CEO, Roisin Currie.
School learning environments across Scotland will become phone free under measures announced by Education Secretary Màiri McAllan yesterday.
Highlighting the damage phones can cause to pupils’ wellbeing and education, Ms McAllan confirmed forthcoming legislation to restrict their use in all of Scotland’s schools. A consultation will be launched within the new government’s first 100 days, with refreshed guidance published this summer to further encourage schools to bring in their own restrictions in advance of the law change.
A public health campaign will also be developed for young people and their parents, raising awareness of online harms while providing advice on how to stay safe on the internet.
The Scottish Government aims to build on strong foundations, delivering a phased and evidence-based public health approach to tackling online harms, informed by children and young people.
We are helping schools create better environments for learning.
Education Secretary @MairiMcAllan visited James Gillespie’s High School to hear about their phone free policy.
The Education Secretary said: “We will shortly publish a consultation on laws to make our learning environments phone free, meeting our commitment to do so in the first 100 days of this government.
“Legislation is the way for us to mandate phone-free learning, but if head teachers want to take action themselves they do not have to wait, and nor should they.
“While we prepare legislation, we are working with education authorities to refresh the current guidance by the end of June, to support schools to consider their approach from the next term.
“Our schools and learning environments should be safe and nurturing environments for our children and young people, where they can learn free from the distractions of mobile phones.”
In response to the Ministerial Statement on phone-free classrooms made yesterday, Mary Glasgow, Chief Executive of Children First said: “The strong commitment from the Scottish Government to set clear, consistent limits on mobile phone use in schools as part of a wider public health response to protect children from online harm is a crucial step in tackling the national childhood emergency of our time.
“The proposed guidance for schools must include firm boundaries for working with technology providers, so children’s data is protected and they are never exposed to advertising, addictive design or harmful content.
“Children are experiencing online harm on an unprecedented scale which must be matched by an unprecedented level of leadership and commitment. That’s why we’re calling on the Government to establish an independent online harm reduction unit within the first 100 days of the new Parliament.
“The unit would bring together expertise from across sectors to better understand risk, support parents, carers and professionals and challenge harmful and exploitative practices by tech companies.”
Any parent or carer worried about their child can contact Children First’s support line on 08000 28 22 33 or visit www.childrenfirst.org.uk/supportline for expert practical and emotional support.
Edinburgh’s last all-boys school is removing phones overnight in a drive to put sleep back at the centre of school life.
As debate continues following Westminster’s recent decision to ban mobile phones in schools, Merchiston Castle School in Edinburgh is taking its own approach to managing screen use.
The independent school has their younger boarders hand in their phones and tablets each evening before bed, removing the temptation to scroll, message or game late into the night.
For Sixth Form pupils, phones remain with them but the school’s Wi-Fi switches off at 11pm, marking the end of the digital day. The policy forms part of a wider effort to encourage healthier digital habits and better sleep routines.
As a boarding school, staff also oversee evening routines and bedtime in the houses, giving them a unique view of how screen habits affect sleep.
The move comes amid growing concern about the impact smartphones are having on teenagers’ sleep and attention. Recent research by the National Literacy Trust found that fewer than one in ten boys aged 14-16 now read daily for pleasure, with screens and digital distractions increasingly dominating evenings.
Staff say reclaiming some of that evening time has become an important part of boarding life at Merchiston.
The school has also introduced The Bothy, a deliberately screen-free social space where pupils can spend time together without devices, playing board games, reading, listening to music or simply talking.
Staff say the aim is not to ban technology but to help boys develop healthier routines around sleep and downtime.
Boarding staff say the biggest change is visible in evening routines once devices are removed.
Richard Glover, house parent for the school’s middle-year boarders, where phones are handed in overnight, said: “Before we introduced clearer routines around phones, it wasn’t unusual to see boys scattered around the house late in the evening, each absorbed in their own screen messaging, gaming or scrolling.
“Once the phones are handed in, the atmosphere changes quite quickly. You start to see the more traditional side of boarding life come back with boys chatting in the common room, reading, playing pool, helping each other with homework or even cooking together in the kitchen.
“We have noticed that the boys even recognise their sleep quality improving with the school’s routine. Within a short time the house becomes much calmer and bedtime happens far more naturally.”
For older pupils, the emphasis shifts towards independence.
Nick Lieberman, house parent for the school’s Sixth Form boarders, where pupils keep their phones but Wi-Fi switches off at 11pm, said: “With Sixth Form pupils the focus is much more on independence and learning self-management of their screen time.
“They’re only a year or two away from university, so part of boarding life is helping them learn how to manage their own routines and helping them build habits they’ll carry with them beyond school.
“The evening routine in Sixth form is sacred and forms invaluable structure for the boys while in school. The boys must then be in their rooms and settling for bed from 10pm onwards.
“When the Wi-Fi switches off at 11pm it creates a natural end point in the evening and a digital switch off, limiting the opportunity for endless scrolling and also the temptation to do a bit more work because rest is so important as a part of academic study.”
Carole Crawford, whose son flexi-boards at Merchiston and spends part of the week boarding and part at home, said the school’s approach to evening phone use has helped reinforce positive sleep habits and support the routines already encouraged at home.
She said: “Like most teenagers, my son would happily stay on his phone late into the evening if he could. We have always encouraged sensible phone habits at home, and the structure at school really helps reinforce that message.
“It gives him a clear point in the evening to switch off, settle down and get a proper night’s sleep. When he comes home, that pattern carries through, and he is more conscious of putting the phone down at the right time.”
Headmaster of Merchiston Castle School, Huw Jones, said: “Sleep is fundamental to how young people learn, concentrate and manage their wellbeing. Rather than focusing on restricting or banning phones, our priority is to nurture the skills and habits that support a healthy, sustainable relationship with technology.
“In a boarding environment, we have a duty to ensure pupils have the time and space to switch off properly at night. When young people are well rested, everything improves, from focus in the classroom to how they engage with friends, sport and school life more broadly.
“I try to model good habits by locking away my own phone during the working day. It’s a simple way of showing that how we use technology has a direct impact on our attention, productivity and wellbeing.”
To learn more about Merchiston Castle School, please visit:
Fruitmarket opens an exhibition championing the creativity of Edinburgh primary school pupils
Fruitmarket’s Creative Connections exhibition marks the culmination of a pioneering three-year programme that places artists in schools to embed creative learning in the classroom. This year’s Creative Connections exhibition will be open to the public on 29.05.26–31.05.26 from 11am–6pm at Fruitmarket, Edinburgh.
The exhibition features artwork inspired by Fruitmarket’s programme, created by Primary 5–7 pupils across six primary schools in South Edinburgh: Craigour Park, Gracemount, Gilmerton, Liberton, Prestonfield and St Catherine’s R.C. Primary.
Since 2023, Fruitmarket has worked in close partnership with classes across the six primary schools in South Edinburgh. The schools have been paired with practising visual artists who have been in residence at the schools, working with pupils on creative projects supported by regular visits to the gallery.
The six artists are Alice Dansey-Wright, Coral Brookes, Georgie Fay, Greer Pester, Kate Temple and Lorna Gallagher. Through regular professional development sessions, Lead Artist Louise Fraser has supported teachers to develop new skills and the confidence to embed arts pedagogy in the classroom across the three years.
Creative Connections was created by Fruitmarket, in close collaboration with participating schools, in response to a demand for creative provision in Primary schools and a focus on pupil wellbeing and confidence following the Covid-19 Pandemic. The project was made possible at this scale and depth through a multi-year grant from Paul Hamlyn Foundation and now has set a benchmark for educational visual arts programmes in Scotland.
Over three years, 757 pupils aged 8 – 11, 23 classroom teachers and six headteachers have participated.
Artists worked with the same classes across the academic year, providing consistent mentoring for pupils and ongoing support for classroom teachers. At the end of each year, pupils showcased their work in a public exhibition celebrating achievement and strengthening connections between schools, families and the gallery.
This year’s cohort has drawn inspiration from recent Fruitmarket exhibitions including What Is Us and What Is Earth, by Glasgow-based artist Ilana Halperin and Wilding, by the Indigenous American artist Jaune Quick-to-See Smith.
One Headteacher said: “I think what’s really made the difference in this project is the fact that we have had the opportunity to work over a number of years. It is not unusual for us to be able to have a project that comes in for a term or a couple of lessons and children enjoy it and they go away afterwards, but it’s that sustainable impact that we don’t necessarily see to the same degree.
“The chance to build up a relationship with an actual artist, to build up a relationship with a gallery has a huge impact for the staff, for the school, also for the children as well, who really, I think, feel that the Fruitmarket is their gallery because of this extended time they’ve had together.
“That depth of the project has been something I’ve not actually seen that before in a project I’ve worked with in my 30 years in education.”
Fiona Bradley, Fruitmarket Director, said: “Over the course of three years, though our ongoing project evaluation, we have seen how working closely with artists in the inclusive context of contemporary art spaces –where there are no right or wrong answers – can help both pupils and teachers express themselves and grow in confidence.
“The annual exhibitions of pupils’ and teachers’ work at Fruitmarket are something we look forward to every year and give our audiences the opportunity to share in a moment of pride with pupils, teachers and families.
“We are very proud that the project has become so valued by the schools, and we have committed to continue to deliver the programme in the new school year in a sustainable form. We are actively fundraising for the continuation of the project and we are very grateful to the funders who are already help make this possible.”
Kevina Khan, Grants Manager, Paul Hamlyn Foundation, said: “Creative Connections shows the incredible things that can happen when artists, teachers and pupils collaborate.
“Through the programme, artists-in-residence and teachers have been building meaningful relationships and finding ways to bring the expressive arts into the curriculum for excellence.
“The impact on children’s educational outcomes, confidence, wellbeing and engagement is powerful.
“The professional learning element of the programme means that these creative approaches to teaching and learning will have a lasting legacy.”
New education missions launched to open doors for children in England’s most under-served communities
Thousands of children from England’s most under-served communities are set to benefit from targeted support that will transform their life chances through two pioneering new education programmes.
Mission North East and Mission Coastal will bring expert support into classrooms and new opportunities beyond the school gates for children in the North East, Hastings and Scarborough from this September — communities where too many young people have been held back for too long, with persistently low results.
Announced by Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson today, these landmark programmes will transform children’s lives — giving the most disadvantaged children the mentoring, careers support, and enrichment opportunities they need to achieve and thrive.
The data driving these decisions is stark. The North East has the lowest exam results of any region in England at 1.9 points below the national average of 46.0 in Attainment 8. In Hastings, disadvantaged pupils average just 26.0 and in Scarborough around 27.
Across the country, disadvantaged White British pupils are being consistently let down, scoring 30.9 against 48.6 for their better-off peers. That is a generational injustice.
These missions will change that. Expert practitioners will work directly with leaders and teachers, building teacher capacity and raising standards. Schools will work together in local clusters, learning from each other rather than tackling challenges alone.
Beyond the school gates, new partnerships with employers, sports clubs, faith groups and youth organisations will provide vital mentoring, careers support and cultural enrichment — the building blocks of a full childhood.
These programmes build on the success of the London Challenge, which launched in 2003, and proved what is possible when you concentrate expert-led, place-based support in communities that have previously been left behind.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said: “I grew up in the North East and know the challenges families face. I want every child there, and in coastal communities like Hastings and Scarborough, to have the same opportunities I was lucky enough to have.
“For too long, children living in these areas have grown up without the opportunities that they need and deserve to be able to achieve and thrive.
“That is not a matter of ability. It is a matter of justice. Mission North East and Mission Coastal are our commitment to change that postcode lottery for good.”
Designed with a Test, Learn and Grow approach, these programmes will identify what works quickly and feed those lessons back into national policy – so these missions benefit not just local communities, but similar communities across the country.
Over time, we will look to form a wider alliance of other coastal areas with similar challenges, where children and families can benefit from the approach being taken in Scarborough and Hastings.
The landmark Schools White Paper set out the government’s plans for Mission North East and Mission Coastal as part of our plan to cut the link between background and success and halve the disadvantage gap for this generation, so that every child can achieve and thrive.
This work builds on the passing of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act, which introduced free breakfast clubs to all primary schools and places new limits on branded school uniform costs.
Together, these measures form part of the most ambitious programme of investment in children and childhood England has seen in a generation.
Competition launched in celebration of National Year of Reading 2026, encouraging children to ‘Go All In’ on reading with 25‑word book review challenge
TGJones has launched a nationwide competition for UK primary schoolchildren and primary schools, with a total prize value of over £17,000 up for grabs.
The ‘Bitesize Bookworms’ competition supports the National Year of Reading 2026, the biggest campaign in a generation designed to inspire everyone to discover a passion for reading and embed it into our everyday lives.
A Department for Education initiative supported by the National Literacy Trust, the National Year of Reading is delivered with the support of major sponsors and partners, including TG Jones. Primary school children across the country will be asked to share what they love about their favourite book – in 25 words or less.
Each winner will receive a £200 TGJones Gift Card, plus £4,000 of books and stationery for their school, while runners-up will win a £50 TGJones Gift Card and £500 of equipment for their school.
All entrants will be in with a chance of winning the huge prize, with three winners and nine runners up to be selected by an expert panel of literary judges, including primary school teacher turned rapper MC Grammar, Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan.
Competition entries will be split across three primary school age groups, with one winner and three runners-up from each group.
Reception – Year Two (England & Wales) / Primary 1-3 (Scotland & Northern Ireland)
Year Three – Year Four (England & Wales) / Primary 4-5 (Scotland & Northern Ireland)
Year Five – Year Six (England & Wales) / Primary 6-7 (Scotland & Northern Ireland)
The competition has been launched after a poll of 1,500 schoolchildren between the ages of 5 and 12 years old found that they spend over 6.8 hours a week reading, with an average of 3.8 hours spent reading for pleasure, and 3 hours a week spent reading for homework.
This trumps time spent on other activities including gaming (5.5 hours a week), playing outside (6.2 hours) and even chatting with their friends (5.8 hours).
The National Year of Reading aims to change the perception of reading, and redefine it as a modern, relevant and social activity. The campaign encourages the nation to Go All In in 2026, reading into our passions and interests to get more out of the things we already love, whether it’s football, gaming, music, sci-fi, or baking.
The competition adds to the momentum, providing an opportunity to encourage new readers to pick up a book, and share their recommendations with others to spark a conversation about reading.
MC Grammar (Jacob Mitchell) commented: “I can’t wait to hear of the adventures and wonders that kids have discovered within the pages of the books they’ve loved.
“The knowledge they have gained will help shape their lives, and now they have the chance to share that magic with the world – inspiring more readers, everywhere, to open a book and dream.”
David Hayman, Director of the National Year of Reading 2026 said: “Reading has the power to open doors, spark imagination and build confidence in every child.
“Through the National Year of Reading 2026, we’re encouraging families, schools and communities to rediscover the joy of books and inspire a lifelong love of reading.
“We’re incredibly grateful to TG Jones and all of our partners for their support and their shared commitment to making reading a relevant and rewarding part of everyday life.”
Alex Willson, CEO of TGJones and Head Judge of Bitesize Bookworms, said: “Nothing is more creative than a child’s imagination and we want to celebrate that unfiltered, accidental comedy that comes from a child giving their honest opinion about their favourite book.
“Reading is so important for a child’s development, and as partners of the National Year of Reading 2026 we hope this campaign encourages more children to pick up their favourite book.”
When it comes to why children want to read more, polling showed that 52% are driven by the desire to learn new things, 40% said they were inspired to pick up a book based on its cover, while 33% want to keep up with what their friends are reading.
The surge in engagement is fuelled by a love of enduring characters and stories that continue to capture children’s imaginations. The research revealed that JK Rowling’s boy wizard Harry Potter (36%) was the most popular storybook character among primary school-aged children.
In second place was Julia Donaldson’s The Gruffalo with 20%, followed by Roald Dahl’s Matilda with 18%. Marmalade loving Paddington Bear came in fourth place with 16% of the vote, with 15% voting for Peter Rabbit.
When it came to the nation’s favourite children’s authors, JK Rowling topped the charts with 28% of the vote. Roald Dahl was in second place with 23%, followed by Julia Donaldson with 18%. Jeff Kinney, best known as the author and illustrator of ‘Diary of a Wimpy Kid’ secured 10% of the nation’s vote, and ‘The Cat In The Hat’ author Dr. Seuss came fifth with 9% of the vote.
School children who want to share why they love their favourite books can enter via the online entry page, which remains open until 23:59 on Friday 5th June 2026.
New research finds most children fall short of their five-a-day
The Tesco Free Fruit & Veg for Schools programme hits more Edinburgh schools, as new research finds most children fall short of their five-a-day
Less than 1 in 10 Edinburgh children currently eat their recommended five-a-day, according to new research
Ambition to help one million school children across the UK access free fruit and vegetables through Tesco school and community programmes by July 2029
Tesco invites children to create fun fruit & veg-packed recipes, with winning dish served in over 1,500 schools to mark expansion of its Free Fruit & Veg for Schools programme
To encourage children to be more adventurous with fruit & veg, Tesco is launching the Giant Fruit & Veg Challenge. To find out more and how to enter, visit www.tescoplc.com/fruitandvegchallenge
Less than 1 in 10 Edinburgh children eat their recommended five portions of fruit and vegetables on a typical school day, with 8.70% of parents saying their child only eats one piece of fruit and veg per day, according to new research from Tesco.
But the findings also show what does work when it comes to getting five a day into kids with more than half (73.91%) of Edinburgh parents and carers say their child is more likely to eat fruit and veg when they can choose it themselves, and making food fun or visually creative encourages their children to try more.
So, to help more children get more of their five-a-day and the nutritious food they need to learn, Tesco is doubling its Free Fruit & Veg for Schools programme from September, with the aim of doubling the programme again the following year. And the results to date speak for themselves, with 94% of teachers nationwide reporting improved behaviour among pupils taking part.
The new research further highlights why schemes like Free Fruit & Veg for Schools matter. Children tend to stick to familiar favourites, with fruit far more common than vegetables in their diets, and many parents say repeated refusal shapes what they buy at home. Just over half of Edinburgh parents (56.52%) say they have stopped buying or serving certain fruit or vegetables after their child repeatedly refused them. By contrast, pupils taking part in Free Fruit & Veg for Schools have collectively sampled more than 100 different varieties of fruit and vegetables, helping to broaden tastes and encourage healthier choices.
To encourage and inspire children to be more adventurous with fruit and veg and to celebrate the expansion of its Free Fruit & Veg for Schools programme, Tesco is launching the Giant Fruit & Veg Challenge**.
The competition invites children to dream up their own fruit and veg-packed dish, with the winning recipe shared on menus across the UK and in Tesco’s programme. The challenge is supported and judged by JLS star turned farmer JB Gill, and his son Ace, alongside a panel of experts and nutritionists.
Along with its Fruit & Veg Grants and Free Fruit for Kids in its stores, Tesco aims to support thousands more local children in getting more of the good stuff. Customers will be able to help grow the programme with Tesco donating every time customers buy fruit and veg at Tesco up until 24 May.
LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 21: <> during the Tesco Giant Fruit And Veg Challenge on April 21, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Jeff Spicer/Getty Images for Tesco)
Ken Murphy, Tesco Group CEO, said: “We’ve set out an ambition to help one million children get free fruit and veg through our school and community programmes, supporting the development of healthy habits.
“Schools have told us what a positive impact the Tesco Free Fruit & Veg for Schools programme has already made, so we’re delighted to be able to double the number of schools receiving support from September.”
Elaine Hindal, Chief Executive of the British Nutrition Foundation, said: “A significant number of children in the UK are growing up with diets that don’t support their health.
“Early food experiences matter, as they can help to shape children’s confidence, habits and long‑term health outcomes.
“By helping children enjoy and regularly eat fruit and vegetables from a young age, programmes like Tesco Free Fruit & Veg for Schools can help to make a lasting difference to diet and health now and in the future.”
For more information and to enter the Giant Fruit and Veg Challenge, visit:
