The Library
It isn’t just a library. It is… a gateway to a better and happier and more useful life.”
The Library is a key resource for the whole school community. Our aim is to provide a First Class, welcoming, positive environment where students can enjoy reading and learning independently.
We encourage our students to develop a love of reading for pleasure by following their individual interests; reading widely and making new discoveries; reading across a variety of genres and forms — and pursuing what they enjoy the most.
The driving principle of our work is to lay the foundation for a lifetime of reading. We offer a diverse collection of books and guidance with making selections for individual reading, and to support learning across the curriculum. Throughout the year, the library provides a variety of activities and initiatives to encourage keen and reluctant readers.
As part of our commitment at Putteridge High School to your child’s education, we are delighted to inform you of our Accelerated reader scheme, which tracks and monitors your child’s reading age and progress. Student reading ages can be found on the front of their reading logs, along with their book levels.
The scheme involves children reading books at their level and completing a computerised quiz to check comprehension. The advantage of using such a system is that it will help motivate the children to encourage more regular and fluent reading. Answering the quizzes will help monitor the progress that they are making in understanding the texts. Accelerated Reader lessons take place in the Library.
It is a school policy that all students should have a reading book with them every day as we encourage children to read in form class and other times during school.
We hope that you will support us in the continuing success of this scheme.
You'll find parent resources for Renaissance Learning products on their website https://www.renaissance.com/about-us
To access the Accelerated Reader quizzes please click here.
Resources and facilities:
- The library has a diverse collection of around 10000 fiction and non-fiction books for students and staff to browse and borrow. The librarian constantly updates and maintains the collection, and students are always welcome to make suggestions or requests. A variety of displays, activities and events throughout the year to promote reading for pleasure, tie in to whole school priorities, and enrich the curriculum
- Essential stationery items are available to buy at cost prices, during form time and lunchtime.
- An enthusiastic team of student library leaders who assist with the day-to-day running of the library
- Subscriptions to a variety of quality magazines, both educational and for pleasure
- Teaching space, with seating for a class of thirty two students.
Lending agreement:
Students who borrow from the library accept full responsibility for taking care of these resources and returning them on time. A Charge of £5 will be made for the replacement of lost or damaged items, but we do not levy fines for overdues.
Students in Years 7 to 11 can borrow up to 2 books at any one time. All resources are issued for two weeks, after which they must be returned or renewed.
Librarian - Ms S Spicer
Email the librarian - please feel free to get in touch with me if you have any queries about the library or your child’s reading. sspicer@putteridgehigh.org
Literacy Lead - Miss B Robinson - brobinson@putteridgehigh.org
Useful websites & Apps
Teen and Adult Phonics Library
Reading suggestions - Year 7
Growing up
Fantasy
Journeys of Discovery
Reading suggestions - Year 8
Changing Societies
Comedy
Gothic
Reading suggestions - Year 9
Self-help
Dystopian
Detective/Mysteries
Reading suggestions - Year 10
Life and Death
Gothic
Justice and Injustices
Reading suggestions - Year 11
Environment
Hobbies
Conflict
And finally……..
“A library is many things. It’s a place to go, to get out of the rain. It’s a place to go if you want to sit and think. But particularly it is a place where books live, and where you can get in touch with other people, and other thoughts, through books. If you want to find out about something, the information is in the reference books. If you like to be told a story, the library is the place to go. Books hold most of the secrets of the world, most of the thoughts that men and women have had. And when you are reading a book, you and the author are alone together—just the two of you. A library is a good place to go when you feel unhappy, for there, in a book, you may find encouragement and comfort. A library is a good place to go when you feel bewildered or undecided, for there, in a book, you may have your question answered.” — EB White.
Stationery
Stationery can be purchased from the library during form time and breaktime, Monday - Friday. Items available:
Black / Blue pens - 10p
Pencils - 10p
Highlighters - 50p
Eraser - 20p
12" ruler - 20p
A4 plastic pocket - 5p
Sharpeners - 20p
Protractors - 15p
