A popular, rural primary school near Radstock has been chosen to be part of a selection panel for the Royal Society Young People's Book Prize.

The annual competition aims to promote literacy in young people and to inspire them to read about science.

Shoscombe Church School is one of only 500 primary schools across the UK who will compare and judge six new children's books.

Headteacher, Ruth Noall, said: "It also supports the writing of excellent, accessible STEM books for under-14s. The prize is unique in that the winner is selected by judging panels made up of young people at schools across the country from a shortlist curated by an adult judging panel.

Here in Shoscombe, we have a judging panel who each week are scrutinising a different book. In recognition of the hard work our pupils will have put into selecting an overall winner, the school is allowed to keep copies of each book."

The six books shortlisted by The Royal Society are:

- Gut Garden: A Journey into the Wonderful World of Your Microbiome (Katie Brosnan)

- The Everyday Journeys of Ordinary Things (Libby Deutsch, illustrated by Valpuri Kerttula)

- Cats React to Science Facts (Izzi Howell)

- In the Key of Code (Aimee Lucido)

- How to Win a Nobel Prize (Professor Barry Marshall with Lorna Hendry, illustrated by Bernard Caleo)

- Astrophysics for Young People in a Hurry (Neil deGrasse Tyson with Gregory Mone)

The winner will be announced at virtual award ceremony in February 2021.

For more details about Shoscombe Church School call 01761 432479 and visit their website at www.shoscombeprimary.co.uk