A vibrant, pupil-centred space designed to inspire a love of reading and learning has opened at The Gordon Children’s Academy.
The children and staff who attended the official opening of the library on Wednesday 10th September, celebrated this occasion which was made possible by a £3,500 grant from the Foyles Foundation, awarded following the school’s successful bid to develop an inclusive reading space for all pupils.
£2,500 of the grant was allocated to expanding the school’s collection of books, ensuring access to a broad range of genres and material to support all reading levels. In response to pupil voice, the new library also features a dedicated section of dyslexia-friendly texts, underlining the school’s commitment to accessibility and inclusion.
The project was led by Assistant Headteacher Miss Basset, who carefully designed the new library space, and worked on securing the grant funding. Adding a personal and lasting touch, last year’s Year 6 pupils painted artwork on the library walls of their favourite literary characters and stories with Teaching Assistant, Mrs Hubbard, leaving behind a creative legacy.
The opening event saw pupils Genevieve and Logan invited to cut the ribbon as representatives for the school. When asked what they loved the most about the new resource, they both agreed that “the space feels warm and welcoming and is a place that we are very excited to visit” with logan expanding to say “I really like the wall designed with everyone’s favourite characters from graphic novels and other stories.”
In attendance were, Stuart Gardner, CEO of the Thinking Schools Academy Trust to which the school belongs, members of the Executive Team and representatives of the trust alongside the school’s Headteacher Nicola Youseman and Deputy Head, Ella Martin.
To mark the occasion, local author James Jefferson delivered an “out of this world” workshop for pupils in Years 1–6, sharing his book I Want to Go to Space – Jimmy’s Adventure before answering questions about life as an author and his passion for space. Parents and children were also invited to meet James and receive signed copies of his books, with James generously donating a collection to the new library for pupils to enjoy for years to come.
Adding an extra special touch, the books were illustrated by Nemy Arthur, a former pupil of The Gordon Children’s Academy, making the stories not only exciting to read but also a proud celebration of the talent that has grown within the school’s own community.
Miss Basset reflected on the journey to opening the library, saying: "I’m so proud of all of the hard work that has gone into building a space for all of our children to experience and have access to beautiful stories. “From October, every class will have library time timetabled into their school day, so every child can enjoy reading with their friends and can borrow books of their choice until their next visit. I look forward to seeing this room being used to nurture a love of reading in our school community. “We are incredibly grateful to the Foyles Foundation for their support, and to everyone who has helped bring this vision to life for our pupils."
Miss Basset reflected on the journey to opening the library, saying: "I’m so proud of all of the hard work that has gone into building a space for all of our children to experience and have access to beautiful stories.
“From October, every class will have library time timetabled into their school day, so every child can enjoy reading with their friends and can borrow books of their choice until their next visit. I look forward to seeing this room being used to nurture a love of reading in our school community.
“We are incredibly grateful to the Foyles Foundation for their support, and to everyone who has helped bring this vision to life for our pupils."
The new library reflects The Gordon Children’s Academy’s commitment to putting children first, nurturing their curiosity, and transforming life chances through education.