DULOCH Library staff recently visited Duloch Primary School to award pupils who had completed this year’s Summer Reading Challenge with their certificates.

The theme for the challenge this year was record breakers, which is hugely appropriate as the school had a record-breaking year with more than 80 pupils completing the challenge, well up on last year’s total.

Sponsored by Tesco Bank, the Summer Reading Challenge is a national programme supported by the Reading Agency. In total, 6,177 Fife children signed up, all reading at least six books during the holidays, claiming a gold medal and picking up some great rewards along the way.

Arleen Davidson, facilities and services supervisor, presented the children with their awards and said: “Pupils from Duloch Primary School were very enthusiastic about starting the Summer Reading Challenge this year, with the Primary 3 reading group promoting the challenge at assembly."

“It was so rewarding to hear about the books the children had read and enjoyed! It is great to see such a passion for reading!”

The challenge – among many initiatives promoted by Fife Cultural Trust in Fife’s libraries – has helped to raise literacy attainment levels in the region, with Fife performance actually increasing among primary school children while the national average has dropped since 2012.