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Harry Charms Students Into Success

Boy-wizard theme helps English school turn scores around

By Wesley Oliver, Newser Staff

Posted Nov 22, 2007 5:42 AM CST

(Newser) – The Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry it is not, but a suburban Nottingham school is using Harry Potter’s magic to get results. Primary students chose JK Rowling’s enchanted novels as their curriculum theme, a system school officials launched to raise lagging test scores. Subjects are laced with riffs on the books, and activities plunge students into Harry’s supernatural world.

The theme system, which has also embraced chocolate and the Titanic, worked: The school languished in the lowest quarter of English schools but has surged into the upper echelon, Time says. Officials branded the school “outstanding,” noting its success with students with learning disabilities and behavioral problems. “It’s made school a lot easier and better,” gushed one 10-year-old Hermione-in-training.

Harry Potter fans scramble to get a copy of the final volume in the magical saga. (Getty Images (by Event))

A Harry-Potter-themed curriculum has turned things around at a school struggling with a poor reputation and low test scores. (KRT Photos)

J.K. Rowling with the students who were chosen to ask her questions during the J.K. Rowling Open Book Tour at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles on Monday, Oct. 15, 2007. (Photo by Matt Sayles for Scholastic... (Associated Press)

Boy reading "Harry Potter." (Getty Images)

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Harry Charms Students Into Success

Boy-wizard theme helps English school turn scores around

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