Primary school launches its first library with author visit

A primary school celebrated its first ever library lunch with an author visit on Friday.

Before the launch, Christ Church C of E Primary School in Shooters Hill, Woolwich, was one of the 14 per cent of UK primary schools without a library. 

Bex Hogan, author of new children’s book Bronte Tempestra, formally cut the red ribbon at the launch event.

A spokesman for the one-form entry primary school said it had not previously been able to afford a library. But over the last few months a team of parents, carers and children have worked together to collect, stamp and sticker more than 2,300 pre-loved books.

Governor of Christ Church, Deborah Maclaren, said: “Everything changes when we read, and it’s critical that we give our children access to a wide range of new, diverse and inclusive books where they can all find themselves reflected.”

The launch comes as research from the Centre for Literacy in Primary Education shows that more than 60 per cent of classrooms have no access to a budget for new books, one in four children leaving primary school cannot read fluently.

Pictured top: staff and pupils at the launch event on Friday (Picture: Christ Church C of E Primary School)