Birmingham students take part in prestigious national book awards
Students at Rockwood Academy, part of CORE Education Trust, have taken part in the 2026 Carnegies, shadowing one of the UK’s most respected book awards for children and young people.
Members of the school’s Rockwood Reads Shadowing Group read and discussed books from this year’s shortlist before joining a live-streamed celebration announcing the winners.
Jamie Henshaw, Executive Headteacher at Rockwood Academy, said: “Taking part in the Carnegies gave our students the opportunity to read widely, discuss different perspectives and explore some of the very best new books being published for young people.
"Joining the shadowing programme has been a fantastic experience for our Rockwood Reads group, and we are incredibly proud of the thoughtful discussions they have had and the high-quality reviews they produced as part of the project.”
As a reward for taking part, every member of the group received a free Carnegie title to keep, while their collection of reviews has been published in a special magazine, now available in the school’s Learning Resource Centre and on the school website.
The Carnegies, organised by CILIP, celebrate outstanding writing and illustration for children and young people. Each year, thousands of students across the UK take part in shadowing groups, reading shortlisted books and debating their favourites.
Rockwood Academy places reading at the heart of school life, encouraging students to discover new authors, share recommendations and develop a lasting love of books. Alongside initiatives such as the CORE Canon Reading Challenge and author visits through the Stratford Literature Festival, opportunities like the Carnegies help students broaden their reading, think critically and grow confident in expressing their ideas.