The Library’s mission is to be the heart of Fearnhill School. We aim to provide a welcoming environment for students and staff which will ensure that the Library is always busy. Our main objective is to encourage students to develop a love for reading which will set them in good stead to succeed with their future studies, whichever route they take.
Through regularly changing displays and reading challenges we hope to create an atmosphere where all students feel seen and will find something which interests them and have the confidence to pick up a book.
I opened a book and in I strode
Now nobody can find me.
I’ve left my chair, my house, my road,
My town and my world behind me.
I’m wearing the cloak, I’ve slipped on the ring,
I’ve swallowed the magic potion.
I’ve fought with a dragon, dined with a king
And dived in a bottomless ocean.
I opened a book and made some friends.
I shared their tears and laughter
And followed their road with its bumps and bends
To the happily ever after.
I finished my book and out I came.
The cloak can no longer hide me.
My chair and my house are just the same,
But I have a book inside me.
‘I Opened a Book’
by
Julia Donaldson
Students are welcome in the Library before school, at break, during lunchtime and after school Monday to Friday until 4pm. During this time, they can read a book, use our computers for research or homework or play a boardgame.
USING THE LIBRARY
All students and staff at Fearnhill are members of our Library and may borrow two books for two weeks, after this time these are due for return or can be renewed.
Students in years 7, 8 and 9 will have regular timetabled lessons in the Library to enable them to choose books, read books and share their reading with the aim of encouraging reading for pleasure.
Other classes may use the Library on an ad hoc basis and, when not in use by a class, the space is available for the Sixth Form to use as a private study area.
The full Library policy can be viewed here.
LIBRARY COLLECTION
Our fiction section contains over 1,500 books through which we hope to offer all students mirrors of their own lives and windows onto the lives of others. The books have been chosen to appeal to students of all ages, interests and abilities, from the latest in teen and young adult fiction to the established classics and our catalogue is updated regularly to include newer works including those nominated for the Carnegie and Greenway book awards alongside student suggestions. In catering for a range of teenagers, some of our fiction tackles more mature and adult themes; at Fearnhill we don’t censor our readers but encourage them to share their reading with parents or guardians, and remind them that they are always welcome to come and speak to library staff.
We also have a large non-fiction section, quick reads, and a growing graphic novel and manga section.
A quiet corner of the LRC is also a popular place for staff working with a small group of students. Book boxes can be provided for use in the classroom.
LIBRARY LESSONS
All students in years 7, 8 and 9 will have one lesson a fortnight timetabled in the library. During this time students select a reading journey with the aim of reading 5 books. The journeys come with suggestions of books in our catalogue which we hope will help students find the books they want to read, but they are also welcome to make their own suggestions or read a book from home.
CHOOSING A BOOK
To help with choosing a book, the school library catalogue can be accessed from the computers in the library of from home at https://uk.accessit.online/frn05/#!dashboard. When accessed from school, students can sign in, reserve books or review recent reads to help other students with their book choices.
For further help in choosing a book there are recommended reading lists by year group at https://www.lovereading4kids.co.uk or by age at https://www.booktrust.org.uk/books-and-reading/bookfinder/
Our Library is also always staffed and we love to help students struggling to find a book.
BORROWING RESOURCES
It is important that all books borrowed from the library are properly issued. Reminders for overdue books are sent automatically to student’s school email addresses and we ask for them to be returned to the library or renewed. Books can be renewed by dropping by the library or sending Mrs Thurlby an email. It is also important that books are returned to the library via the front desk otherwise the library system won’t know they are available for other students.
Damages happen! If your child damages a book they have borrowed we appreciate their honesty. Students do not get into trouble for damaging a book, however as you can imagine, we do need to replace any damaged stock so parents will be contacted and asked for a £2.50 donation to help with replacement. Overdue books not returned before the summer holidays will also be treated as lost and again parents will be asked for a £2.50 donation per book towards replacement.
WHY IS READING IMPORTANT?
Evidence suggests that children who read for enjoyment every day not only perform better in reading tests than those who don’t, but also develop a broader vocabulary, increased general knowledge and a better understanding of other cultures. In fact, reading for pleasure is more likely to determine whether a child does well at school than their social or economic background.
The benefits of reading are not only seen in school, reading improves our mental health, reducing stress and anxiety, it improves concentration and helps sleep. Once school is complete the benefits of reading continue into our later lives, when as well as helping us earn our qualifications, reading broadens our minds, enlarges our vocabularies allowing readers to communicate more professionally and confidently in the workplace; it has also been proven to help slow cognitive degeneration and slow the rate at which our memories fade.
MY CHILD STRUGGLES WITH READING
All year 7 students who start at Fearnhill school complete a short reading test so that we can determine any gaps in their knowledge. As part of.the baseline testing, each student is given a reading age and any student who would benefit from reading intervention will be invited to take part.
At Fearnhill we run two interventions using tried and tested strategies: Reading Fluency and That Reading Thing.
Those who receive Reading Fluency intervention work in a small group of no more than 5 students to improve their fluency. A fluent reader is one who has the ability to read words without regularly having to stop to decode unknown words. Working in a group they learn to use expression in their reading allowing a better understanding of the text.
That Reading Thing is the strategy we use to support our weakest readers, it is a one-to-one package developed to support teenagers and adults who have phonics gaps.
COMPUTERS
The Library has 8 computers with Internet access which can be used before school, at break and lunch times and after school until 4pm. Students using the computers must follow the school’s Code of Conduct for using computers and can not be used for games, chat rooms or social media. We also have chrome books which students can borrow for a day on a first-come-first-served basis.
BOARD GAMES
We have a growing bank of board games which can be borrowed during free time with chess being our most popular. We also run a weekly checkmate in one challenge where one entrant will win an Amazon voucher at the end of the year!
Students are welcome to organise their own clubs after school to play those games which take a little longer such as Dungeons and Dragons, monopoly or a game brought in from home. If you wish to run a club speak to Mrs Thurlby.
OTHER ACTIVITIES
Students who are interested in being more creative can collect some wool and a crochet hook and get creative! Those who wish to learn can come along after school when the library is quieter for some help.
To help students relax we also have some mindful colouring in with coloured pencils and pens available to borrow.
DONATIONS
We are happy to receive donations of books in good condition, complete board games or small jigsaws and wool remnants. Please send them to the library with your student or drop off at the school office.