In the face of national pressures around budgets, staff recruitment and the content of children’s fiction, a number of schools across the country have proved how much impact school libraries can make by connecting young people, families and communities with the power of books and reading. Just some of their stories were shared at the School Library Association’s 2024 Awards today which recognised the efforts of three winners in West Sussex and Merseyside.

During a jubilant ceremony in London, judges from the School Library Association (SLA) applauded the incredible achievements of Steyning C of E Primary (Steyning), Swiss Gardens Primary (Shoreham-by-Sea) and Weatherhead High (Wallasey) – where school librarian Heather Grainger saw off a competitive shortlist to be named the Secondary School Librarian of the Year. Steyning C of E won the inaugural The Peter Usborne Primary School Library of the Year, while Swiss Gardens won the Enterprise of the Year Award.

Award-winning author, Robin Stevens, presented the awards with all winners receiving a wide selection of books and book tokens.

Scooping Enterprise of the Year, an award sponsored by Reading Cloud which celebrates a one-off or progressive project in the life of a school library that contributes towards reading and literacy in schools, was Swiss Gardens Primary. Judges praised Swiss Gardens for its “impressive” and “really important” work to replace and extend their existing library, which was formerly outdated and largely unused.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 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, Naomi Welsh, Headteacher 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.” 

Invited to the podium on behalf of Steyning C of E Primary was school librarian Leia Sands who expressed her delight at the recognition. 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." 

Weatherhead High School’s Heather Grainger also celebrated, becoming the 2024 Secondary School Librarian of the Year, an award sponsored by Sora, OverDrive’s school digital reading platform. Following glowing recommendations from her colleagues, Heather wowed the SLA judges with 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 impressively 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 wildly 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.

Speaking about her achievement, Heather said,“I am incredibly honoured to win this award from the SLA. The other honours-listed librarians, and all the other award winners, show the amazing work that is being done in school libraries every day. I am so fortunate to have colleagues and a leadership team who champion our school library, and truly value the work that I do. Our wonderful students make this job a real pleasure, and provide endless inspiration.”

Alison Tarrant, CEO of the SLA, extended her warm congratulations to all the winners and runners-up, saying: “Our three winners are all role models of what a commitment to books and reading can do - and they’re not alone in providing brilliant services for young people and communities. Our judges witnessed a great deal of innovation, imagination and enthusiasm in schools around the country this year. “

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.”

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@WeatherheadHigh @SPS_lovetoread