Schoolchildren have begun reading in earnest after being selected to help decide to winner of Blue Peter’s Book Awards 2015.

Oakthorpe Primary School, in Tile Kiln Lane, Palmers Green, is one of ten schools across the country selected to help judge the awards.

Pupils from the school were chosen to read all six books from the shortlist, with three fiction and three non-fiction. Their votes will help decide the eventual winners.

Chris Graham, literacy leader for the school, said: “Reading is one of the key areas the school is targeting and when we saw the opportunity, we could not resist.”

The school had to give reasons why pupils wanted to help judge the awards.

Ms Graham thought of a novel way of getting a place.

She said: “We thought it would be a good idea to get the children to write why they wanted to be on Blue Peter and it worked out well.

“All the children have been really keen and enthusiastic to take part in the competition – everyone has enjoyed reading the books.”

Nine-year-old Kaiser Coleman said: “I have been fascinated by all the books but I enjoyed the non-fiction books, they had some funny facts which I think everyone would like.”

The BBC programme came into the school to speak with pupils about their thoughts on the books.