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A set of original dugout seats from the City Ground, kindly donated by Nottingham Forest Football Club, have found a new home at St Ann’s Well Academy after the school was named a winner in a schools competition run through Nottingham Forest Community Trust as part of the Premier League Primary Stars programme.

The competition invited partner primary schools to take part in a creative challenge, explaining how they would use a pair of matchday dugout seats if they were chosen as winners. Schools were asked to set out how the seats would support learning, inspire pupils, and be embedded into school life.

St Ann’s Well Academy impressed the panel with a simple but engaging idea built around reading and aspiration: “Read like a Premier League Star.”

As winners of the competition, the school transformed the dugout seats into the centrepiece of a new Forest-inspired reading corner.

The seating area has been carefully designed to reflect the original idea submitted by the school. The bases of the seats now feature the message “Read like a Premier League Star,” linking reading time with the excitement and identity of professional football.

What was once an integral part of a matchday at the City Ground is now part of everyday learning, giving pupils a distinctive space to read, focus and enjoy books.

In school time, pupils see being selected to use the dugout seats as a reward. Pupils describe it as something to earn, which has helped increase motivation around reading time and learners value having a calm and quiet space where they can read independently and concentrate.

There is also excitement around the story behind the seats. Children enjoy the idea that the seats were once used by professional players at the City Ground, adding a sense of connection to the Nottingham Forest and the Community Trust.

Staff have also noticed that pupils appreciate the wider book selection available in the space. The reading corner is not limited to football-themed books, helping children explore a broader range of interests.

Deputy Headteacher Patrick Betts said the competition win has created real energy across the school.

“We are delighted to have a unique part of Nottingham Forest in school. The dugout chairs have created a brilliant sense of excitement around reading at St Ann’s Well Academy. Children are thrilled when they have a chance to read in the dugout chairs and look forward to reading in school.”

Reading lead Hayley Clarke added that the impact has been immediate within the classroom setting.

“The arrival of the dugout seats has been very exciting, creating a real buzz in the Year 3 classroom where we’ve based them. Staff have worked hard to create a lovely reading area based around the idea of ‘Reading like a Premier League Star’ and it’s been great to see how inspired the children are.”

The initiative forms part of Nottingham Forest Community Trust’s work through Premier League Primary Stars, a dedicated primary programme funded by the Premier League Foundation, giving partner schools the opportunity to engage with the Club and Community Trust in creative ways that support learning and wellbeing.

At St Ann’s Well Academy, the result is a dedicated reading space that connects football, imagination and learning in a way that pupils can see and feel every day.