A SCHOOL has been given a special recognition award.

Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School was named the Renaissance 2016-17 Champion School.

The Blackburn free school was awarded the title for its successful implementation of a programme called Accelerated Reader.

Children receive awards known as the Accelerated Reader awards and these awards are split into two categories: the Reading Millionaire award and STAR Reader award.

Reading millionaires are Key Stage 3 pupils who succeed in reading a million words in a school year.

STAR readers refer to students have gained 100% in their Accelerated Reader quizzes, consistently over our three terms per year.

Valerie Dewhurst, head of library at QEGS, said: "Encouraging students to reach their target and word count has many benefits, and has indeed increased our fiction loans from the school library.

"A book buzz has been created, our students are now more likely to borrow a fiction book to enjoy, to quiz, to discuss with their peers and then to reap the awards."

More than 50 students have received an Accelerated Reader award this year, with more award winners expected in the coming days. Last year 74 pupils obtained the award.

The digital programme was first used by the school in 2013.