Reading & Our Library
At St Bart’s, we’re big on reading – in the classroom and for pleasure.
All the research shows that students who enjoy reading and read for their own enjoyment do well academically across the board, and not just in English or the Humanities. Just as significantly, though, reading benefits students’ wellbeing and their sense of themselves and the world. Not only can reading develop empathy for others, it can also help body and mind to relax and support sleep.
We believe that books make some of the best rewards with our very own school book vending machine, which dispenses a new and exciting title to any student lucky enough to receive a vending machine token!
We are lucky enough to have a fantastic, fully equipped School Library at St Bart’s, encompassing two large study spaces with 20 open-access computers and networked printers/scanners. There is always help available for students from our librarian, Mrs Hewetson. Students are welcome to visit the Library at any time, including break, lunchtimes and after school, for:
- Individual study or research
- Completing Independent Study
- Group study or research during lessons
- Using reference books
- Finding leisure or wider reading
- Using computers and internet, and printing/photocopying
- Reading newspapers and magazines
Students can also use RM Unify on their school devices to check what is available in the library catalogue.
The Library maintains close links with Faculties to ensure they have relevant book stocks to support specific areas within each subject.
St Bart’s also benefits from our own school Patron of Reading, successful children’s author Peter J Murray. Peter visits St Bart’s regularly, including on World Book Day, to speak to students about his stories and tales, judge writing competitions and work with students in writing workshops. We are incredibly fortunate to have someone so dedicated to writing and reading as we continue to find more ways to interest and engage students with reading across all year groups.
Our English department offers a fantastic range of trips and clubs to support and enhance students’ enjoyment of, and skills in, reading, writing and speaking. Students are also regularly challenged to extend their own learning through opportunities such as Carnegie Shadowing, the Literacy Quiz, Reading Awards and through the promotion of competitions. A recent example being the Junoberry Seasonal Short competition, which challenged young writers to submit a Christmas story between 500 and 2,000 words in length. St Bart’s was the most successful school across the country in terms of entries (9) that made the shortlist and longlist.
