Library

The Library is located in the Bevan Building alongside the Humanities department. It is an environment designed to promote independent study and reading for pleasure.

Resources

  • Over 5000 books are available for students and staff to explore and borrow
  • Wide range of books available in the non-fiction section, from Sport and Art, to Geography and History, including magazines and newspapers
  • Hundreds of fiction titles organised by genre, including winners of prestigious awards such as the Carnegie Medal and YA Book Prize

Library Opening Times

  • Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri: 8.05am to 4.00pm
  • Wednesday: 8:05am to 3:00pm
A photo of a bookcase full of books in the Library.
A photo of a chair in front of a corner bookcase featuring a wide range of different titles in the Library.
A photo of a metal wire book rack with various book titles displayed on it.
A photo of the Library with two back-to-back sofas in the centre of the room.
A photo of desks and chairs in the Library surrounded by bookshelves along the edges of the room.
A photo of a bookcase full of books in the Library.

The School Day

Students are welcome to use the Library before school, at break, during lunchtime and after school for completing schoolwork, revising, or reading for pleasure.  

During lesson time the Library is open to Sixth Form students wishing to use the resources for independent study. Staff in all departments also regularly book the Library for lessons.

Students in Years 7, 8, and 9 have timetabled English lessons in the Library once a fortnight. They read books together as a group and choose their own books to encourage reading for pleasure.

Students are able to borrow 2 books from the Library at once for four weeks at a time. The books can be renewed for another two weeks if there is no one else waiting for them.

Library Clubs and Events

The Pageturners Book Awards book club meets every Wednesday at lunch time for years 7&8. Over 15 local schools participate in the awards each year, which involves students reading books from the themed shortlist chosen by librarians and then voting for their favourites. The winners are announced at an awards ceremony at Kent College in Pembury, which includes the chance to meet some of the authors and have their books signed. In 2018 the fantastic authors Juno Dawson and Patrice Lawrence attended and in 2019 we had the equally fantastic Matt Killeen and Sita Bramachari in attendance. In 2022, our first in-person event since the pandemic began, students got to meet and listen to a high-energy and hilarious talk by Sarah Crossan. For more information about this local book award, including this year’s shortlists and pictures of past awards evenings you can visit: https://pageturnersbookaward.co.uk/

Miss Kindregan also organises regular events to promote reading for pleasure including non-fiction reading. The Britannica Magazine Schools Quiz and the National Literacy Champions quiz also take place in the library each year. Our team for the Britannica Magazine quiz won second place last year and we are hoping to make the finals again next year!

Recommended Reading Lists

Please see the recommended reading list, with books for all year groups, attached below.