Barrow Hills invests in the power of reading

Barrow Hills School has appointed its first librarian following the School’s investment in a new library, which opened at the beginning of the autumn term.

Lou Emmett, a former Barrow Hills parent and Teaching Assistant took up the position at the start of November. Lou is an avid lover of books and has previously worked on a similar refurb project at another local Prep school. As the mother of four children, she is highly experienced in encouraging children to read using a variety of techniques. Lou has worked in the Learning Support and Extension department for 12 years, supporting children between Years 3-8, so knows the school well.

The original library - sited in the main school building, ‘Great Roke’ – underwent a transformation during the summer holidays. This represented a major refit of the original space, aided by the generous donation of £10,000 raised by the Barrow Hills Community Committee (BHCC). The improved facility is open to all children at Barrow Hills, from nursery (aged 2) up to Year 8, although the younger children in Pre-Prep have their own smaller library, which, thanks to the hard work of staff, also underwent a revamp during the summer holiday. This resulted in the creation of a bright, airy space where the children can discover the joy of reading.

Great Roke was built in 1909 by the architects Herbert Tudor Buckland and Edward Haywood-Farmer who were best known for their seminal Arts and Crafts houses. Of these, Great Roke was the largest and most ambitious. Created at the time when William Morris was acknowledged as the period’s most celebrated designer, no detail has been spared in the newly refreshed reading zone, including William Morris blinds and a colour scheme sympathetic with the era. The project has been assisted by insightful input from Envoplan, a school design and refurbishment company, which specialises in designing and building beautiful, yet intelligent learning environments.

Commenting on the library’s refurbishment and the appointment of a new librarian, Philip Oldroyd, the Head at Barrow Hills said, “The Department for Education has acknowledged the vital role that school libraries play in encouraging children to read widely. However, with a recent report commissioned by the Great School Libraries campaign (run by CILIP, the UK library and information association and the School Library Association) revealing that 13% - or one in eight schools don’t have access to a library space, a designated reading zone is not something that is always available. This is especially true in primary schools where finding a dedicated library space is even less likely.

At Barrow Hills, our pupil profile encourages children to be scholarly, curious and responsible and it is hard to imagine how to hone these attributes without easy access to books. Our children are not just encouraged to read per se, we want them to enjoy reading and for it to become a lifelong passion. A Reading Agency research study showed that reading for pleasure is vital for academic success and can also lower levels of stress and depression. Reading increases a child’s understanding of their own identity, improves empathy and gives them an insight into the world view of others. We want to do everything in our power to ensure our children grow up recognising the significant value that books can bring to their lives – and to their overall well-being.”