Library News
"Pupils read widely and often. They develop a keen interest in different types of literature
and factual reading materials as they get older. The English Department’s ‘sixteen by 16’
programme lists fiction books that pupils are asked to read by the time they finish Year
11. Many of these books help pupils to develop their understanding of issues around
equality and diversity. Pupils relish these opportunities."
Ofsted
The Library is open between 10.30am and 2.30pm. Sixth Form students have access to study during free periods and the whole school community can come during break and lunchtimes to read and borrow books.
We have a large fiction section, with separate areas for our ‘Sixteen before 16’ collection, our manga collection and our Senior fiction.
The Non-Fiction and reference sections are arranged by curriculum subject so resources are easy to locate including both revision and research material, as well as wider reading.
Both Book Club and Poetry Club are held in the library and Scrabble sets are available for students to use at lunchtimes.
Library Online
The school Library system is available online, using the Accessit Library Management System so that students can renew, reserve and check availability of books from home or school computer rooms.
Click here to access via the student’s school email address and password.
In addition a wide range of e-books are available to borrow via our subscription to the Wheelers e-book collection which can be accessed via either their website or the free app: select our school and log in using the student’s school email address and password. 
Sixteen Before 16
As part of a whole-school strategy to develop students’ reading habits, cultural capital and vocabulary, ‘Sixteen before 16’ is promoted in the library.
This collection of titles recommended for all students to read by the end of year 11 was compiled from contributions from all subject areas. It includes winners of the Nobel Prize for Literature, the Carnegie medal and the Pulitzer prize feature on the list.
It covers a vast range of themes, including: hope, love, deception, loss, growing up, conflict, choice, inequality, courage, poverty and power. The books present a wide variety of literary styles including satire, fables, modern memoirs, gothic literature and magic realism.
Reading these texts will transport students to different times and locations, including: the Victorian workhouse, Hardy’s Wessex, America in the 1930s and post 9/11, Auschwitz 1944, the rural Punjab, Wolverhampton, London, Nigeria and Havana.
Copies of the texts are available in the school library. There are fifteen texts on the list: the last spot has been kept free and students are encouraged to fill this with a recommendation from a parent/carer. It is hoped that all students will find books to entertain, move and inspire them.
Reading List
KS5 Reading Challenge
The books on this list have been recommended by members of staff from different subject areas and some sixth-form students.
The list is an enjoyable, thought-provoking and diverse one, covering a wide range of genres, eras, writers, themes and literary styles.
Some texts will open up new worlds, encourage empathy and reflection on the human condition; others will provide welcome moments of escapism.
Students are encouraged to peruse the list and set their own reading target, for example, to read three books from each category by the end of Year 12.
KS5 Reading Challenge Book List
Student Librarians
The Library has many Student Librarians who help with shelving, circulation, preparing books for cataloguing, displays and housekeeping. The places are coveted and don’t come up very often but every September, new year 7 students are invited to apply for places.
Student Librarians are a very important part of the Library community and develop many skills. They also have the chance to use their duties as part of the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme.
Book Club
Book Club runs every Friday lunchtime and sessions are varied. The group shadows national book awards, such as the Carnegie Medal, discusses particular authors or series of books including student-led sessions which highlight favourite books or stories the students have written and self-published.
We may look at wider topics such as censorship or the use of mythical creatures in literature. We also celebrate awareness days such as LGBTQ+ History Month, Black History Month and Disability Awareness Month, as well as occasions such as Remembrance Day and Chinese New Year by highlighting our specific, relevant collections.
Poetry Club
On Fridays, after school in the Library. students from any year group can come along and join Poetry Club. There are always warm up activities to get the creative juices going and then we spend time reading and writing different types of poetry. Those who wish to can share what they have written and always be assured of an enthusiastic and supportive audience. Students keep the poems they write and gradually build up a portfolio of their work. Beginners are most welcome and will receive help writing their first few poems.
Author Visits
We are sometimes lucky enough to have visits from authors who come to speak to us about their books and the creative process of writing them. Students find these interesting and inspiring.
Our most recent visit was from Julian Sedgwick, Carnegie-shortlisted author of Tsunami Girl which is on our Sixteen Before 16 list.
