Each year, Gloucestershire secondary schools are invited to take part in a Battle of the Books reading challenge (where students read a diverse range of books based around a theme) followed by a live debate at The Times and The Sunday Times Cheltenham Literature Festival. This year, for the first time, we’re excited to welcome local primary schools to the challenge too.

This October, students from five primary and five secondary schools will champion a book which inspires them to Change the World and battle it out against their peers. The events will be hosted by authors and our eminent judging panels will decide the winner for KS2 and KS3.

This initiative represents a partnership between Cheltenham Festivals and Gloucestershire Library Services for Education.

Keep your eyes peeled for our Literature for Schools programme.