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.

 Library Opening Times

The library is open on the following days and times for specific year groups. After school is open for all years, for students who wish to do quiet, calm and purposeful learning and reading. 

There is a maximum capacity of 35 students at any time. If it is at capacity, unfortunately no more students will be able to enter.

Read & Rise

As part of our commitment at Putteridge High School to your child's education, we are delighted to inform you of our Read & Rise programme, which tracks and monitors your child's reading age and progress.

Student Expectations

• Reading Commitment: Complete a total of 2 hours of reading per week, which can be split into 20-minute daily segments.
• Silent Reading: During any designated reading lesson or time, you are to be silent and focused on your reading.
• Equipment: You are to bring all necessary equipment with you to lessons.
• Classroom Etiquette: You are not to get up and out of your seats without teacher permission.
• Book Responsibility: You are in charge of ensuring you always have a book to read in their lessons. You should utilise break, lunch times and afterschool to change or acquire new books to avoid disrupting learning time.
• Technology Readiness: Chromebooks are to be charged and ready for use if needed.

Reading Requirements

Reading Requirements

Students must read minimum of 9 books by the end of the academic year, comprising:

• 4 Fiction
• 3 Non-fiction
• 2 Classics

Homework

• Students must read for a minimum of 2 hours per week as homework. This can be broken down into 20-minute daily segments.
• A minimum of 3 books must be read by the end of each term.

Book Journal

You’ll keep a digital Book Journal, where you will: 

 Choose fun reading tasks from a menu

 Create your own “Digital Bookshelf” - list books you’ve read or want to read
  

By the end of each term, you should have:

Autumn: 3 tasks done

Spring: 6 tasks total

Summer: 9 tasks total

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
• An enthusiastic team of student library leaders assist with the day-to-day running of the library
• Subscriptions to a variety of quality magazines, both educational and for pleasure
• The library is also used as a 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.

Useful Websites & Apps

Reading Suggestions