Pupils at St Francis Xavier鈥檚 Primary have recently received a prestigious gold award from the Scottish Book Trust鈥檚 Reading Schools programme. Delighted at the achievement, Rebecca Murray, acting principal teacher, said: “The award recognises the school鈥檚 outstanding commitment to building a vibrant reading culture, where books are celebrated and reading is at the heart of school and community life. “From book clubs and 鈥楤ook Nooks鈥 to community events and random acts of literary kindness, the school has shown how reading can connect hearts and minds. “This well-earned Gold Award is a celebration of creativity, compassion and the power of stories to bring people together.鈥 The Scottish Book Trust introduced the awards, which are funded by the Scottish Government, as research proves that reading for pleasure has positive impacts on learners’ attainment across the curriculum, supporting wellbeing, critical thinking, creativity, empathy and resilience.