Reading Plus Champions Hub 2026
Welcome to your hub for all things Reading Plus Champions! Meet the students with a stand-out passion for reading and access all their Champion tasks.
We are committed to accelerating our students’ reading progress while fostering a reading for pleasure environment. One way we achieve this is by appointing Reading Plus Champions!
Every academic year, a new batch of Champions, who are passionate about reading and excel in the Reading Plus programme, have the opportunity to complete several exciting activities with us, including:
- Reviewing new (and unseen!) texts yet to be added to Reading Plus.
- Sharing their experience of Reading Plus in a blog titled ‘My Reading Plus Journey’.
- Expanding their reading further and reviewing books outside of Reading Plus.
- Collaborating with us on interviews with children's/YA authors.
Meet all of our Reading Plus Champions for the 2025/26 academic year!
Meet Reuben
A Year 4 pupil from St Andrew the Apostle Catholic Primary School.
Colin Deakin, Deputy Headteacher at St Andrew Primary, said: “We are very proud of Reuben at St Andrew’s for his fantastic achievement. He is described by the children in his class as ‘always having his head in a book.’ He is a wonderful ambassador for reading and Reading Plus across school."
Meet Lukoh and Ezekiel
Year 6 pupils from St Fidelis Primary School.
Annabel Phelan, Class Teacher at St Fidelis, said: “We are incredibly proud! Seeing not one but two students recognised as Reading Plus Champions is a moment of great celebration for the entire school community. It validates the effort they have put into their personal reading journey. For us, it isn’t just about the award; it’s about the confidence that radiates from a child when they realise they have mastered a skill that once felt challenging. It sets a brilliant example for their peers and reinforces our culture of reading for pleasure and purpose."
Meet Tilly
A Year 8 pupil from Liberty Academy.
Tim Williams, English Teacher at Liberty Academy, said: "Becoming a Reading Plus Champion shows dedication, growth, and a real commitment to improving reading skills. It reflects not just strong effort from the student, but also perseverance and confidence as a learner. Celebrating that achievement reinforces the idea that hard work pays off and motivates continued success."
Meet Fedora
A Year 5 pupil from St Bede's Catholic Primary School.
Jim Quinn, Class Teacher at St Bede's Primary, said: "Fedora is amazing! She loves Reading Plus and reads incessantly. She moved to our school last year from Nigeria and is simply sensational. She has three younger brothers (triplets) and jokes that Reading Plus is an escape for her! Fedora has a brilliant smile and it is on show every time I mention Reading Plus. She deserves recognition."
Meet Zi
A Year 5 pupil from Lift North Ormesby.
Mica Wood, Class Teacher at Lift North Ormesby, said: "Zi has an appetite for literature and excels in class. She has a real talent with her reading fluency, comprehension and her vocabulary choices and deserves recognition. She makes me proud every day and shines in our reading sessions; her talent also translates exceptionally well into her writing. Zi spends a lot of her time in class and at home on Reading Plus and deserves recognition for being an absolute role model - not just to her peers in school but to everyone who needs a boost to read for pleasure!"
Meet Penelope and Ayva
Year 5 pupils from Brookvale Primary School.
Carol Ashford, Teaching Assistant at Brookvale Primary, said: "Penny is a passionate reader and a budding writer. She is never happier than when she has a book in her hand, whether at home or at school. She uses her love of reading to enrich her own story writing. I believe that we have a future author in the making"
"From a very early age, Ayva developed a passion for reading. Her expression when she reads is amazing; she loves to bring the stories to life. Now she is in Key Stage 2, and her love of reading has just grown with her. If you ever want an opinion about a book, Ayva is the person to ask. She will tell you exactly what she thought of a book and why."
"I am immensely proud of Penny and Ayva, as they have a great attitude to their learning, and especially their reading."
Meet Liam
A Year 6 pupil from Silver Springs Primary Academy.
Karen Allen, Class Teacher at Silver Springs, said: "We are absolutely thrilled that once again, we have another student who has graduated from the Reading Plus programme. We are celebrating our youngest-ever graduate at Silver Springs Primary Academy: Liam. He actually completed the college-level programme in Year 4."
Meet Esther
A Year 6 pupil from The Oaklands Primary School.
Adam Reed, English Lead at The Oaklands, said: "Esther embodies everything the Reading Plus Champions initiative stands for. She approaches every session with enthusiasm, engaging deeply with texts, strengthening her comprehension, and expanding her vocabulary. She inspires others through her dedication, humility, and quiet determination.
We feel extremely proud that Esther was chosen. She is a fantastic ambassador for Reading Plus within our school, and this is an achievement we are all celebrating with her."
Meet Yasmi
A Year 7 pupil from Reach Academy Hanworth Park.
Lucas Jennison, Class Teacher at Hanworth Park, said: "Yasmi has consistently completed extra assignments, loves to read and wants to become an author in future! We are thrilled about Yasmi being chosen as a Reading Plus champion - it is great for her to receive the recognition she deserves for all her hard work."
Meet Ellie
A Year 4 pupil from Yealmpstone Farm Primary School.
Jess Wafer and Dan Baker, Teachers at Yealmpstone Farm, said: "Ellie is an outstanding reader whose dedication and enthusiasm shine through in everything she does. Whether exploring fiction, non-fiction, poetry, or new authors, Ellie approaches every reading opportunity with curiosity and excitement. Her open-minded attitude has helped her develop a rich and varied reading identity.
Her journey reflects the very essence of what it means to be a Reading Plus Champion: dedication, progress, and the ability to inspire others."
Meet Dominic
A Year 7 pupil from Arena Academy.
Majida Khatun, Head of English at Arena Academy, said: "Dominic joined Arena with very little confidence, but since consistently completing Reading Plus, his confidence has grown, and his enthusiasm for reading has increased tenfold. Dominic is now at the top of the school leaderboard and has read around 111,359 words!
Dominic's engagement and enthusiasm for Reading Plus are changing the way he sees school. He is now much more confident and walks with his head high as he puts a lot of effort into Reading Plus."
Meet Azizah
A Year 5 pupil from Willow Bank Primary School.
Tom Heather, Class Teacher at Willow Bank, said: "Azizah has demonstrated exceptional dedication and perseverance in her Reading Plus journey, consistently going above and beyond what is expected. From the moment she began using the programme, she has approached every session with enthusiasm, determination, and a genuine desire to improve.
Her progress has been remarkable. Despite starting with limited confidence, she is now reading securely at a Year 9 level - an impressive achievement and clear indicator of how far she has come. What truly sets her apart is not just her academic progress but her personal growth. She has developed into a confident, fluent reader who takes pride in her learning and is eager to challenge herself with increasingly complex texts."
What is Reading Plus?
DreamBox Reading Plus is an adaptive online reading development programme designed to accelerate progress, improve results and build engagement.
Benefits of Reading Plus include:
- An efficacy study proved that students using Reading Plus significantly progressed more than non-users (full study here).
- Students are offered choice and control to self-select texts aligned with their interests from a vast online library.
- Regular challenges and initiatives motivate students, encourage reading for pleasure and celebrate successes - like our Reading Plus Champions!
Want to discover if Reading Plus can help your school? Book a call with a Reading Development Consultant to find out more!
