The Library

The library is a bright, welcoming space located on the first floor of A Block, continuously staffed by a librarian. Students are welcome to use the library facilities before school, at break, lunchtime and after school.

Main opening hours: 8.45am – 4pm
Monday – Thursday lunchtimes: 12.25pm – 1.05pm
Friday lunchtime: 12:45pm – 1:05pm

The Collection

We have over 7,500 books and DVDs on our shelves with a wide variety of authors, genres, fiction titles and non-fiction. The collection is continuously updated with exciting new titles and our regularly changing displays showcase different parts of the collection in line with memorial and celebratory weeks/months or events.

Our fiction is arranged in author order and separated into MY (Middle Years) for Year 7 upwards, MY+ for over 12s and UY (Upper Years) for over 14s, whilst non-fiction is arranged according to the Dewey Decimal system. We also have the following separate sections:

  • Dictionaries and Reference
  • Dyslexia friendly/Reluctant Reader
  • Quick Reads
  • Shelf Help
  • Read with Pride
  • Graphic Novels
  • Horrible Histories / Geography / Science / Murderous Maths
  • Military/War Stories
  • Short Stories
  • Jokes/Puzzles/Random Reads
  • Poetry
  • Plays
  • Shakespeare
  • Classics and Abridged Classics
  • Autobiographies/Biographies
  • Senior Fiction
  • Staff Collection
  • DVD Movies

Other facilities include a large teaching area with tables and seating, a teaching computer connected to an interactive whiteboard, ten computers for student use with printing facilities available and a breakout space for quiet study/reading/interventions.

Library Lessons

All students in Years 7, 8 and 9 have a library lesson once a fortnight. During these lessons they undertake class exercises which use a range of carefully selected texts to practice the techniques of the Reading High 5 in order to further develop their reading and comprehension skills.

Following this they are given time to explore our displays, search Reading Cloud, choose their own books and read independently. They may also be asked to read to their teacher, learning support assistant or one of our adult volunteers.

Reading Cloud: Home
Reading Cloud is the system we use to keep track of our library books and resources and make them available for students to borrow, reserve and review. Students can log into their own Reading Cloud account to see their loans, search for books, check reading lists, write book reviews and reserve items if they are already on loan to someone else.

Sparx Reader: Home
Sparx Reader is an online system that we use to encourage regular independent reading and further develop literacy skills. Book levels are matched to student ability though an initial assessment, providing just the right level of challenge. At regular intervals during reading, students are prompted to answer online questions to validate understanding and ensure continued engagement.

The Library Assistant Team

At lunchtimes, our librarians are assisted by a friendly team of student library assistants who are on duty to monitor the number of students entering the library and keep a check on behaviour. They also help students to find books, make recommendations, write book reviews, assist with use of the computing/printing facilities and help keep the shelves/library tidy.

In order to become a library assistant a student is required to apply in writing, explaining what skills and experience they have and stating why they think they would be good for the job. All students are free to apply and if their application is successful, they will be added to the lunchtime rota and assigned a duty day. They will be trained by a librarian or experienced library assistant so that they feel confident in their role. We have regular meetings to share ideas and feedback on how things are going and how we can improve, a Christmas party and a summer awards celebration.

Other useful websites

Do you need help finding your next book? Why not try:

Book Trust – the UK’s largest reading charity 

National Literacy Trust

The Open University – Reading for Pleasure recommendations

School Reading Lists – find titles in curated lists for specific year groups

Havering Libraries service – Libraries – The London Borough Of Havering

Why not join your local library and gain access to a wider range of books, encyclopaedias, audio books and online books? Once you have a library card you can access online resources via the Libby App.

Common Sense Media – helping parents to determine age appropriateness of books