Reading Room at Whitworth Community High School promotes love of books

Mackenzie Harnett and Literacy Champion Megan Lucas in the new Reading Room at Whitworth Community High School

A new Reading Room at Whitworth Community High School is helping to encourage reluctant readers and is fostering a love of books.

The school used to have a selection of books in an area known as ‘The Base’ and a limited selection in all form rooms, but thanks to a grant it now has a dedicated reading room with shelves packed full of hundreds of books.

English teacher Emily Stratton said: “We are trying to encourage students to read more and improve their literacy skills.

“We have Accelerated Reader set up for Year 8 with a view to enrolling Years 7 and 9. We also have a reading culture challenge rewards system

“We were able to get a grant for £500 and when we went to Bright Books to spend it the company was relocating and so we were able to get books worth £2,000 and they also very kindly provided us with shelving.”

Students who were identified as less avid readers worked with the school’s Literacy Champions to classify all the books according to the Accelerated Reader scale.

Literacy Champion Megan Lucas, 13, said: “We have stickers on the books to indicate the age, interest and number of challenge points and the books have also been sorted into different genre.”

Mackenzie Harnett, 13, assisted with setting up the reading room as he admitted at primary school he was reluctant to read, but since attending high school he has read every Harry Potter book several times.

He said: “The new reading room has encouraged me to read as I don’t have many books at home. I like reading horror books.”

Mrs Stratton said: “When students spent a day categorising and labelling the new books for their new library, they were diligent, logical and precise in their approach.

“They took ownership of how to organise the books and this gave them a sense of ownership and autonomy.”

Once a week in form time the school has a ‘drop everything and read’ session for 20 minutes of silent reading.

Students are appointed Literacy Champions and help promote reading across the school meeting regularly with the literacy lead to generate new ideas.

A lunchtime reading club meets in the room and now has more than 20 students attending and a homework club uses the facility after school.

There are plans for comfy seating to be added, student librarians to be employed and a lending system to be introduced.