WGS Shortlisted ISOTY 2025

WGS shortlisted for Independent School of the Year Award!

We are thrilled to announce that Wolverhampton Grammar School has been shortlisted for the prestigious Independent School of the Year award in the category of Outstanding Educational Partnerships, having been recognised amongst hundreds of schools from across the country.

The driving force behind these successful partnerships is WGS Head Librarian, Zoe Rowley. Having witnessed the challenges faced by state schools in providing ample resources for reading and fostering a love for books, Zoe is determined to bridge the gap and extend meaningful opportunities to local schools. With only 1 in 7 primary schools nationwide having their own library, Zoe has tapped into the resources available at WGS to make a positive impact on the community.

This year marks 11 years of outstanding partnership work aiming to inspire a love of reading amongst local school children. During that time, the initiative has ensured that more than 120,000 children from over 50 state schools have worked alongside more than 250 inspirational authors, received free books and taken part in innovative workshops designed to boost literacy skills and develop lifelong readers.  

In March 2025, for World Book Day, WGS invited Jodie Ounsley know as 'Fury’ BBC Gladiators,   to meet hundreds of 7 – 11-year-old students from eight local schools. Jodie, pioneering deaf athlete, who represented England in rugby sevens, shared her empowering story. Her book, Keep Smashing It: Be Strong, Be Brave, Be Confident! inspires young people to believe in themselves and embrace their difference. Listening to Jodie, children gained renewed enthusiasm pursue their dreams. To keep the inspiration alive, every child was gifted a signed copy of her book from WGS.

In addition to attending author events, children are encouraged to showcase their own views and abilities through various competitions organised by WGS. These include the Wolverhampton Children’s Book Award, where young readers vote for their favourite books, and the Wolverhampton Young Authors’ Prize, where pupils from schools across the region submit their original stories.

We wish Zoe and her colleague Duncan McAllister the best of luck for a truly deserved award.

For more information about how Wolverhampton Grammar School can support your school or organisation, please contact Zoe Rowley by email or telephone: 01902 421326.