Library

Relax Explore Achieve Discover

Our library is open every day before tutor time and during morning break and lunch. It is modern, bright and spacious with over 20,000 resources including fiction, non-fiction, reference, newspapers and periodicals.

The fiction section includes the latest releases as well as the classics, providing lots of choice for the varied interests and abilities of our students. Lavington students are encouraged to read for pleasure and KS3 students have a timetabled reading lesson every week. Our librarian also runs book clubs, competitions and activities throughout the year, as well as getting students to recommend books that their peers might enjoy.

Our non-fiction provides additional resources to reinforce and develop understanding of subjects taught and the world we live in. Careers and higher education information, as well as newspapers and magazines are also provided.

There is a computer area, as well as chess sets and games, and bean bags for quiet reading.
e-readers are also available for use in the library.

Students have online access to our library system where they can view their own account, renew or reserve books, write reviews, search the library catalogue and link to relevant websites to enhance their understanding of a subject.

Ms Brough, our librarian, is always available to help, guide, enthuse and encourage.

At Lavington School we want to encourage a love and passion for reading. It is hugely beneficial to everyone but especially young people.

Reading is enjoyable and relaxing!

Reading opens up new worlds and widens horizons
It makes you laugh or cry
It helps you to escape from day-to-day life
It shocks you or warms your heart

Reading improves your confidence and helps you feel better

Develops confidence and self-esteem
Helps you to deal with complex issues from the safe fictional environment of the book
Increases empathy – research shows that young people who read are more empathetic! (APA 2013)

Reading leads to academic success

More important indicator of success than socio-economic/educational status of parents (OECD/PISA 2009)
Aids with cognitive development and impacts across the curriculum – likely to do ‘significantly better’, with a 9.9% advantage in maths by age 16! (IoE, London, 2013).
Science achievement: Researchers found that the strongest factor affecting pupils’ science scores is reading comprehension (EEF, September 2017)
Reading improves teenagers’ vocabulary by 26% regardless of background (Centre for Longitudinal Studies, November 2017)

You have so many choices!

What genre interests you? Can you find something that links to an interest you have?
Kindle? Audiobook? Graphic novel?
Use the library!

What if you find reading hard?

Like any skill, you get better at it by doing it – and later it will become pleasurable: the skill, the will, the thrill!
Talk to your teacher; we have some ideas and programmes you can use at home that will help you become a better reader
We have included some documents for reluctant readers below:

Please be aware that some of the books on the lists are written for adults, meaning some will have ‘gritty’ content. Generally by Year 10/11 young people are ready for this, but parents know their children best; if you have queries about suitability, please check online reviews or ask your child’s teacher.

Reluctant Readers letter for Parents

Years 5,6 and 7 reading list

Year 7 and 8 reading list

Key Stage 4 reading list

English staff adult book recommendations

Animal books

Art in young people's fiction

Books around the world

Books to make you cry

Difficult issues

Dystopian books

If you like Percy Jackson