A PIONEERING summer literacy school in Pendle has proved such a monster success that organisers today rounded off the project with a cinema trip to see Godzilla.

Over the past three weeks, 30 children preparing to start classes at Edge End High School, Nelson, together with 16 students already there, gave up part of their summer holiday break to improve their reading and writing.

The pupils spent every morning at Edge End with teachers to boost their knowledge, ready for the start of the new academic year in a week's time.

Edge End students Mauryam Khalid, Samantha Lyle and Sarah Murray acted as "peer pupils" to help during the summer school classes.

The scheme included visits to Granada Studios, Manchester, and the chemical industry museum, Catalyst, in Widnes.

Yesterday the Mayor of Pendle, Coun Colin Waite, parents and other guests gathered to hear the students give short presentations on their work and receive certificates and £5 book tokens for their efforts.

Coun Waite is pictured presenting Shahzad Saleem with his prize, watched by other successful pupils.

Teacher Ruby Hussain said: "The rewarding thing was that the Edge End students who took part were all children who came to us and asked if they could join in to improve their reading and writing. They wanted to take part and learn.

"It's been a very worthwhile exercise. We've had inspectors and educational advisers here to see what we've been doing."

The children were tested at the beginning and near the end of the scheme to assess how successful it has been.

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