Having recently achieved Scotland's Emerging Talent prize at the first ever Scottish Podcast Awards, the Reading Café podcast, produced by Holy Cross High School pupils in Hamilton, is now setting its sights on the British Podcast Awards where it is not only up against the high-profile broadcasters in the Interview category but has also been shortlist for the Editor’s Choice Specialist Award.

Carla Fagan, Headteacher at Holy Cross High School: “We are absolutely delighted by the continued success of our Reading Cafe Podcast which aims to get people talking about reading.

“We were incredibly proud when the podcast was recognised with a Scottish Podcast Award.

“But to now be longlisted for a British Podcast Award is an extraordinary achievement, particularly given the calibre of the competition, with nominations alongside many of the UK’s most established and well-known podcasts.”

The podcast, which was also the winner of the Best Children and Young Adults’ Podcast at the Independent Podcast Awards in 2024, was set up by the school’s English teacher Peter Kelly in 2021 during Covid when many people reacquainted themselves with the joy of reading during lockdown.

Peter said: “I recognised that children and young people had lost the opportunity to have real-life conversations about their reading as much of their communication had moved online due to contact restrictions through COVID.

“So, I wanted to bring young people together with writers to add a personal connection to the literature being created for them - not only to motivate them towards reading, but also to inspire them as potential future writers themselves.”

Each year, Peter works with a new team of around 15 S5 pupils who audition to present and interview guests for the podcast as well as taking photographs, filming live events and creating social media content.

But Peter says these awards are about much more than just podcasting, they celebrate the power of education to inspire curiosity, amplify young people’s voices and create meaningful opportunities that extend far beyond the classroom.

Chair of the council’s Education Resources Committee, Councillor Lynsey Hamilton, said: “I wish Peter and the pupils every success at the British Podcast Awards. It’s a wonderful reflection of the sustained commitment and innovation that has gone into The Reading Cafe Podcast over the years.”

The podcast can be accessed via Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Audible and Podbean.