COVER FEATURE
generous donation from someone who wanted to remain anonymous, which was incredible. The headteacher also successfully applied to a local trust for £5,000 and the Friends had to agree to match that amount, which we knew we’d be able to do. During that time, all our
fundraising activities, such as discos and family fun nights, were specifically held with the aim of raising money for the library. Once we hit our target, I applied to
Tesco to be one of the blue token beneficiaries and my bid was successful. Again, we spread the word on social media, and we spent that money on more books. The children love their library. My family has a lot of books at home, but my son still enjoys going to the school library and choosing books for himself. The teachers make such great use of the space – they take the preschoolers for a library session before they even start at the school. It’s been such a positive experience for everyone involved. Carolyn Sparks, chair, Friends of Southover Primary School, Lewes (310 pupils)
Good habits The School Library Association
guidelines recommend that primary libraries contain ten to 15 books per pupil. It advises 15 books per pupil for secondary libraries, increasing to 20 in sixth form. Mary-Rose Grieve adds: ‘The
minimum number of books a primary school library should contain, regardless of pupil numbers, is 2,600. If a library has fewer books, it may struggle to meet the interests and abilities of all the pupils.’ Not all children read the same way.
As well as providing books that cater to different ages and reading abilities, Louis Coiffait-Gunn, CEO of CILIP, recommends ‘including reading materials that appeal to different kinds of readers and encourage a lifelong love of reading. This includes non-fiction, picture books, graphic novels, comics and magazines. Look for engaging fiction by diverse authors with different perspectives. Provide books that support escapism, mental health and wellbeing.’ Louis advises stocking books that
promote media and information literacy, helping pupils think critically and recognise misinformation. Other options include audiobooks and e-books,
along with the necessary listening devices, and resource boxes designed for different areas of the curriculum. ‘Jigsaws, card games, board games, colouring and book-making stations can all encourage creativity and collaboration while enhancing literacy skills,’ he adds. While space in school buildings is
often tight, Christopher White, managing director of library design company BookSpace, suggests schools resist the temptation to make the library too multi- functional. ‘When it tries to serve too many purposes, a library can lose the positive reading experience, turning into a non-space or even a dumping ground,’ he says. Carry out online research to get a
feel for how you want the library to look. Primary schools often theme their libraries. Christopher notes: ‘A custom design, such as a treehouse in the centre of the room with archways leading to different zones, will be much more expensive than a classic library setup with standard book displays, tables, chairs and comfortable seating.’ Alongside furniture and shelving, consider what other kind of work might be needed: Do you need to change the flooring? Does the room need decorating? Will you install new lighting? ‘When we go into schools, there’s
often a board displaying pupils’ ideas. Some schools establish a focus group, where one child from each class can share feedback, others opt for a questionnaire. One placed a stack of Post-it notes outside the lunch hall so pupils could write down their suggestions and stick them to the wall.’
Expert guidance In many primary schools, the job of
When it tries to serve
too many purposes, a library can lose the positive reading experience
running a library frequently falls to a busy teacher or group of parent volunteers, often on top of existing responsibilities and with little training. However, a trained librarian can have a huge impact on pupil outcomes. Caroline Roche, chair of CILIPSLG, says a dedicated librarian is a ‘worthwhile investment in literacy for the whole school. They will help raise literacy levels by
School Fundraising SPRING 2025 17
AS TOLD TO SARAH LOTHIAN. IMAGES: CAROLYN SPARKS
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60
