The School Library Association's 2024 Awards
Posted on Thursday, October 3, 2024
Category: Meet A School Librarian
The School Library Association's 2024 Awards aims to recognise the efforts of three schools and their librarians in encouraging reading for pleasure with innovative approaches to reading and library development. Award-winning author Robin Stevens presented the awards at a ceremony in London, with all winners receiving a wide selection of books and book tokens.
Judges from the School Library Association (SLA) applauded the incredible achievements of Steyning C of E Primary (Steyning) which won the inaugural The Peter Usborne Primary School Library of the Year; Swiss Gardens Primary (Shoreham-by-Sea) which won the Enterprise of the Year Award; and Weatherhead High (Wallasey) - where school librarian Heather Grainger was named the Secondary School Librarian of the Year.
Enterprise of the Year, awarded to Swiss Gardens Primary, celebrates a one-off or progressive project in the life of a school library that contributes towards reading and literacy in schools. Judges praised Swiss Gardens for its "impressive and important work" to replace and extend their existing library, which was formerly outdated and largely unused.
Reaching out for support in the school community and beyond, Swiss Gardens teamed up with their Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) and engaged a small army of helpers to help bring the library to life, including parents and members of the local community with interior design and carpentry skills, grandparents who refurbished shelves and put up displays, and the local bookshop, which organised a 'Pay it Forward' campaign to collect donations from locals. Subsequent outreach has included after-school family book-sharing events, book-themed quizzes, craft activities, weekly story sessions to engage with the local preschool and pop-up events targeted at Pupil Premium families in the area.
Reflecting on their journey to date, headteacher Naomi Welsh said: "The school is thrilled to have been recognised for the Enterprise of the Year award. We are very proud of our whole school community for coming together and working hard to provide our children with this fantastic and beautiful library. It is an honour to carry on and extend the hard work and legacy of the library from our previous Headteacher of the school, Lawrence Caughlin."
The inaugural Peter Usborne Primary School Library of the Year, awarded to Steyning C of E Primary (Steyning), was accepted by librarian Leia Sands. Over the past five years, borrowing at Steyning's school library has increased by 600% thanks to a concentrated drive to turn reluctant readers into joyful ones. SLA judges complimented the school's "organic, evolving" approach to integrating the library in the curriculum and assemblies, its outside reading shed for use at breaktimes, the enriching atmosphere created around literacy, and the service's meaningful inclusion of pupil voices, not least through its confident set of Year 6 librarians. Important work to engage disadvantaged learners is also having an impact, with projects to date including penpal contact with a children's author, "story sacks” made with families, and "Bricks and Books” clubs used as engaging interventions for those who need it.
Commenting on their win, Headteacher Simon Phipps said "Reading for Pleasure is at the heart of everything we do at Steyning C of E Primary school. This award reflects how much a fantastic, well-valued library can bring to whole school life. I would particularly like to congratulate our amazing school librarian, Leia Sands, for all her outstanding hard work to ensure that every child in our school has the opportunity to develop a love of reading."
2024 Secondary School Librarian, awarded to Weatherhead High School's Heather Grainger (pictured), highlighted her forward-looking commitment, empathy and enthusiasm in a role she has now held for over a decade - attributes that have enabled her to create and maintain a "safe haven” for students who need space to read and relax in an otherwise busy school environment.
In addition to creating a library that students can enjoy on a daily basis, Heather has expanded Weatherhead's annual 'Weatherhead Lit Fest', previously known as Author Week. This diverse and inclusive celebration, which this year was 'bigger and better than ever before', included all students from Years 7-10, a local primary school visit, and trips to a local bookshop and library. Her drive to introduce a range of reading initiatives including World Book Days, Harry Potter Nights and Poetry Slams has proved to be highly successful in establishing a culture of reading for pleasure, while her Student Librarian Leadership Scheme and efforts to engage every child in the school with reading, whatever their ability or background, attracted high praise from the SLA judging team.
Alison Tarrant, CEO of the SLA, said, "Our three winners are all role models of what a commitment to books and reading can do. At a time when many families and communities are experiencing real hardship, when the pressures on schools are exceedingly tight, and when some librarians are coming under intense scrutiny for the diversity of books they provide, it's deeply encouraging to see so many individuals going the extra mile to make reading more accessible for all the children and young people they support. Their passion and commitment are not only infectious, but hugely impactful too."
