Library

The Secondary School library supports the reading and learning needs of the diverse pupil and staff population at St Mary Magdalene Academy.

The library holds over 11,000 items, including children’s and teens’ fiction, DVDs, manga, comics and an extensive non-fiction and textbook collection. These resources support reading for pleasure, class teaching and pupil homework and revision needs.

There are Kindles, iPads and Chrome books available for pupils to book out during break and lunch, allowing them time to complete homework, search for information and read ebooks. 

To ensure pupils are independent learners by the time they leave the Academy, Year 7s and 8s undertake a library programme, led by the full time Academy Librarian, Odontuya Adiyadorj. These sessions focus on teaching information literacy skills to pupils, such as how to select reliable online information, create effective search strategies, and how to fact find and identify a good novel.

The Years 7 and 8 scheduled library lessons continue throughout the year, providing pupils time to read quietly, focus on completing their reading awards and change their books. Also available are book clubs, Year 9 termly library lessons, as well as Year 10 and 11 GCSE revision classes, which are held in the library.

To encourage reading for pleasure, there is a wide range of exciting events held in the library throughout the year, including author visits, book competitions, group shadowing of book awards and school wide celebrations on World Book Day. 

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Library borrowing allowances

These do not include class textbooks:
Year 7: 2 books
Year 8: 3 books
Years 9-11: 4 books

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Library opening hours

Mon: 9am - 5pm
Tues: 9am - 5pm
Wed: 9am - 6pm
Thurs: 9am - 5pm
Fri: 9am - 4.30pm

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Reading awards and book lists

We have a strong reading culture at the Academy. Pupils are provided with book lists to encourage wider reading and they are expected to carry a book with them at all times. There is a range of reading initiatives to encourage pupils to read for pleasure throughout their years of study.

In Years 7 and 8, pupils participate in the reading awards by reading a range of books and complete reading responses in their reading journal. They move through their bronze, silver, gold and platinum awards, gaining badges as they achieve each award.

When pupils move into Years 9-11 they can take part in the global passport, where they are expected to read a range of books set in locations around the world.

KS3 Book List Attached
Global Passport – KS4 Global Reading List Attached

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Book clubs

The Library Enrichment Book Club is open to pupils in Years 7, 8 and 9. It is led by the Academy Librarian and meets once a week in the Secondary library. Pupils read a range of books together, carrying out activities and discussions related to the books. Recent book club titles include:

Wonder by RJ Palacio
The Garbage King by Elizabeth Laird
When I Was Joe by Kerren David
Coraline by Neil Gaiman

Deloitte Book Clubs are run by the Academy in partnership with Deloitte Consulting. The Year 7 book group meets once every half term, and includes good readers who we think would benefit from being stretched in their reading ability. Copies of the selected books are provided to all pupils at the start of each meeting and lively discussions held on the book in focus.