YOUNGSTERS are more likely to choose television over a good book but pupils at a Woodbridge school are bucking that trend to take part in a 12-hour readathon.

By Jo Macdonald

YOUNGSTERS are more likely to choose television over a good book but pupils at a Woodbridge school are bucking that trend to take part in a 12-hour readathon.

Bookworms at Farlingaye High School are aiming to raise more than £1,000 for charity from the event on June 21.

The 60 students, from years seven to ten, will go to the school library at 8am to start the epic reading session and, with the exception of a couple of hours of breaks, will stay there until 10pm.

They have been told to bring in their own books to read during the readathon.

Paul Macdonald, one of the teachers involved who will be reading Firesong by William Nicholson during the event, said: "They will be bringing in their favourite books to read from and will be able to swap them with their friends.

"Apart from when the guest readers come in, they will be reading quietly to themselves."

The readathon is the idea of special needs and history teacher Anne Merrett and was first held last year.

Mr Macdonald added: "Following the success of last year's readathon it has expanded to take in more students and is now an annual event."

All the students taking part had to apply to be given the day of lessons so they could join in the 12-hour event.

Reading has recently become cool for school children following the success of the Harry Potter books and other new series that have recently hit school bookshops.

Weblink: www.farlingaye.suffolk.sch.uk