BOOKS were open and heads were down as a group of Woodbridge students embarked on a 12-hour readathon for charity.The youngsters at Farlingaye High School were aiming to raise thousands of pounds by reading their favourite books for 12 hours.

By Jo Macdonald

BOOKS were open and heads were down as a group of Woodbridge students embarked on a 12-hour readathon for charity.

The youngsters at Farlingaye High School were aiming to raise thousands of pounds by reading their favourite books for 12 hours.

The 8am start was delayed for some of the pupils to allow them to watch the England vs Brazil World Cup match but they made up for it by reading through some of their breaks to ensure that they had put in the full 12 hours.

The 60 pupils, from years seven to 10, read for 25 minutes at a time interspersed with breaks and chances to listen to teachers and other people associated with the school reading to them.

Headteacher Sue Hargadon took part and read poetry to the children for ten minutes.

The children were provided with doughnuts, sandwiches and drinks while they read and were happy to sit quietly for the whole day.

Paul Macdonald, one of the teachers involved, said: "Some of the children got through five or six books during the readathon while some who had large books only read one.

"They took books of the shelves in the library and also brought some of their favourite books with them."

The children were all sponsored to take part in the readathon and with many of them raising as much as £60 each, the final total was expected to be in the thousands. The money will go to charity, although it is not yet known which one.

This was the school's second readathon and it is hoped the charity event will become an annual fundraiser.

Mr Macdonald said: "It was very successful and the kids were fantastic all day.

"The success of this year's event means we will be running it again next year."

Weblink: www.farlingaye.suffolk.sch.uk