School hopes new library will prove a real page-turner for pupils
Hewett Academy Year 7 students helping open the school's new library. - Credit: Inspiration Trust
A Norfolk secondary school has turned the page by opening a new library housing an incredible £14,000 of new books.
From classic fiction to fact-filled reads, pupils at Hewett Academy in Norwich will have a diverse and inclusive range of new titles at their fingertips.
The new library, which has seen the transformation of an old school block, was officially opened virtually by LBC radio presenter and author Iain Dale.
He said: "There is nothing like having a good book at your disposal to really get your teeth into, it takes you into a different world.
“Books can be so inspiring and I really hope that the students of Hewett get a lot out of the library that the school has worked so hard to provide them with."
Hewett Academy principal, Antony Little, previously principal at Cromer Academy, committed to providing the students with a new library when he joined the school in September.
He said: "The vision was to create a proper academically resourced library at the heart of the school. Reading is really important for students - especially when they get into secondary school. I hope this will be an inspiring place that will help create a lifelong love of reading.”
Eve Mathews, the school’s new librarian, has been working to ensure that the library is not only resourceful but also speaks to today's students.
She said: “Of course, classic literature is important, but my belief is that you can’t get students into the library or encourage them to become regular readers if you don’t provide them with books that reflect themselves, and their own lives and experiences. We don’t want anyone to feel excluded from the library.”
Most Read
- 1 'Awe and disbelief' as thousands of bees swarm pub garden
- 2 Which parts of Norwich could be underwater by 2030?
- 3 New images show progress of Sweet Briar Road repair
- 4 Dad left fuming as royal flag stolen weeks before jubilee weekend
- 5 Police descend on city home 'frightening the life' out of neighbours
- 6 ANOTHER shop in major city street will soon be empty
- 7 Driver with expired license overtakes police at 95mph
- 8 'Rarely available' Victorian home in Golden Triangle on sale for £475k
- 9 Neighbours' tribute to crash victim who 'thought the world of her dogs'
- 10 WATCH: 'Brazen' thief nabs concrete post then makes off with it on bike
The Hewett Academy and its multi-academy trust - Inspiration Trust - funded the new library and the refurbished building that also includes new classroom space, three new music practice rooms and a fitness suite, with access to a suite of laptops for coursework.
The Friends of Hewett group raised £7,000 to fill the library with diverse literature, as a part of their Library for Today project. This was matched by a £7,000 investment in books from the school.
Rebecca Atkinson, chair of Friends of Hewett, said: “Representation in books and authors really matters so we are delighted that Hewett pupils will be able to see such a wide range of authors and stories in their library.”