More people, reading more, more of the time.

Our hope for our library is that it is a place where students discover their reading tastes, and learn about both themselves and the world.  We believe in an abundant model of reading, where children are given free choice, and all forms of reading are celebrated. We want our students to read independently but know that isn't always easy.  We support our students to read independently through regular library lessons for all of our KS3 students, which introduce them to a range of diverse media, and profile the best children's and young adult writers working today.   Our library service works across both our primary and secondary settings to ensure that key messaging around the importance and joy of reading are core to our students' journey right from day one.

Our library is open from 08:40 until 16:15 every day. Our dedicated librarian, Mrs Lloyd, with the help of the library assistant, Ms Sandra, are always there to help and make book recommendations.  Students can borrow four books at a time for up to two weeks. Students can renew their library book by speaking to library staff. 

Our library stocks a wide selection of books to appeal to all students' interests including fiction, non-fiction, manga, graphic novels, poetry, short stories, anthologies, and classic literature. If you would like to make a book recommendation for the library, then please send an email to [email protected]. 

Accessit

Students can use our library catalogue, Accessit, to find books as well as links to other resources to support their learning. Every student has their own library account which they can use to view their current and previous loans, and book recommendations based on their reading habits; they can also reserve a book, review books they have read, and search external useful academic sites via Accessit, also. 

Students can log in to Accessit by using their school log in details. Simply go to the Accessit website, click 'Guest' at the top right of the page, and select 'Log in with school details' which will redirect you to the Microsoft log in page.

Watch this short video to see how you can use your Accessit library account:

First Story

Every year, we work with First Story to deliver regular creative writing workshops. For the past two years, writer and performer Adam Z Robinson has led our workshops, in which students work towards publishing an anthology of their work. You can hear a sample of students performing their work here. Through the programme, students are able to work alongside a professional and have their work taken seriously. Previous alumni have gone on to take part in residential programmes and take part in prestigious mentoring schemes.  

Battle of the Books

Every year we run The Battle of the Books, which sees teachers pitch their favourite books against each other. A highly popular competition, which takes place every March for World Book Day, the competition always sees votes run into the tens of thousands, with previous winners including The Lord of the Rings and The Autobiography of Malcolm X.

Idea Stores

We are tremendously lucky to benefit from an excellent library service in Tower Hamlets.  Libraries in the borough are known as Idea Stores. We strongly recommend that students join their local library and benefit from both their physical and electronic resources. The Idea Stores are also offer warm and quiet spaces to support students revision. Full details on how to join for free can be found here.