Reading Champion Awards 2025: Announcing the winners

Back in November, we asked people to nominate themselves or their colleagues, who work tirelessly to promote the joy of reading for pleasure to young people in their settings, for the Reading Champion Awards, sponsored by Browns Books.

Our panel had the unenviable job of selecting just four winners from the many wonderful nominations we received. You can read about these reading role models and their fantastic work to inspire children and teens to read for pleasure below.

Derek France

As the school librarian at Preston Lodge High School, Derek has transformed the library into a vibrant and welcoming space that acts as a hub of activity within the school.

Derek runs a variety of different groups, including parent/carer book groups, a Book to Film group, a read-aloud book group and many more – each one encouraging the pupils to use their voice and take the lead. Derek makes sure that pupils have access to representative quality materials and events, and feel a real sense of ownership over their library. The space is a safe and nurturing environment which gently promotes reading for pleasure and develops relationships across the whole school and the wider community. Pupils describe the library as 'a place where I don’t feel judged or treated like an outcast', and 'a place where you can be yourself'. His nominator, an english teacher at Preston Lodge High School, describes Derek as an individual who 'tirelessly promotes reading with gently compelling enthusiasm'. Derek has worked determinedly to ensure that every pupil can treat their school library as a place that feels like home.

Gerry Moore

Gerry is a pupil support worker at Carrick Academy and has been instrumental in bringing reading for pleasure to the forefront of the school culture.

As well as fronting the extraordinarily busy Reading Leadership Group, Gerry organises author events, book fairs, book and blether events, opportunities for parents to connect through reading and much more. She has established links with various community groups and helped pupils with the creation of a community recipe book, as well as leading a Book Fairies project, distributing books far and wide.

With unwavering enthusiasm and openness, Gerry has transformed reading into something accessible, joyful and fun – and has brought the whole team at Carrick Academy with her. Staff describe her as 'an incredible source of inspiration', and 'a champion for the joy of reading who sparks the imaginations of young people and fosters a lifelong love of books in pupils and staff'. Gerry’s impact will be felt amongst the school community and beyond for many years to come.

Jodie Logan

Reading shouldn’t be reserved only for the classroom – Jodie Logan, a class teacher formerly at Wiston Primary School and now at Libberton Primary School, has been a powerhouse in making sure that it isn’t!

Jodie put together a storytelling day wherein she brought four rural schools together in nature to share in the joy of books and reading and writing for pleasure. As part of the day, Jodie organised a mystery book hunt, a storytelling station with hand-painted story stones, and the creation of outdoor forest libraries, encouraging appreciation of the natural environment alongside reading. Alongside this, as part of her everyday work, Jodie has organised author events, revamped library spaces, offered opportunities for parents, and put together a book ‘swap shop’ outside of the school, helping those in her rural community who are less able to access a library.

Jodie’s enthusiasm and energy have inspired many pupils and staff and ensured that reading for pleasure is part of the fabric of their lives.

Caroline Tonner

Depute head teacher Caroline has transformed the way that reading is approached within Annbank Primary School. Her dedication and innovative initiatives have had a huge impact on both pupils and staff, fostering a culture of reading and a passion for books throughout the school.

Caroline leads a huge number of reading schemes, organises events and weekly challenges, and gets creative in the delivery of her mission: to share the joy of reading. As well as this, Caroline regularly invites families from the community to join in with the school’s journey through paired reading and the creation of a parent reading area. She is an organisational whiz with a creative flair and a dedication to enriching the lives of her pupils.

Her nominator described Caroline as 'an inspiration in her school, cluster and the wider authority who goes above and beyond to ensure all children get high-quality, equal access to books, stories and reading'.

About the Reading Champion Awards

The Reading Champion Awards is a national award that recognises the hard work learning professionals do to bring the magic of reading to young people. The winners each receive a prize of £250 worth of books from Browns Books, as well as the chance to showcase their work.

Browns Books

Scottish Book Trust would like to thank Browns Books(this link will open in a new window) who sponsor the Reading Champion Awards. Browns Books is the UK's leading supplier of books, eBooks and DVDs for schools, colleges, universities and businesses.