Library

“Reading should not be presented to children as a chore, a duty. It should be offered as a gift.”
- Kate DiCamillo

Our Latest Blog

11 Mar 2025

The Importance of Reading

At Bede’s we are passionate about encouraging our pupils to read, and not only that, to enjoy it. We realise that some pupils will be keen readers and that others will be less enthusiastic, but we firmly believe that if a person, of any age, says they don’t like reading, it’s simply because they’ve not yet found the right book. That’s where our librarian Miss Evans comes in, as she is an avid reader herself and has a career background specialising in books for young people. Alongside the English department, she works hard to find the right books for everyone, pupils and staff alike.

Reading is a vital tool across all subjects and throughout life, whether the goal is to become a doctor or a professional cricketer, an engineer or a landscape gardener. In the famous words of Dr Seuss, “the more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” Whatever path a young person chooses to take, reading will play an essential part in getting them there.

Reading:

improves academic performance
increases future opportunities
strengthens cognitive abilities such as memory, attention span and problem-solving skills
expands language skills and understanding of grammar
encourages critical thinking, an essential ability when lives are lived so fully online
helps develop communication skills
helps build empathy
provides knowledge of other cultures
positively impacts sense of belonging and inclusion
stimulates imagination and creativity
improves mental health and self-esteem

The Library

The library is a bright and welcoming space, perfect for studying or taking a quiet moment to read during break or lunch, and at lunchtime there are also board games and jigsaw puzzles available. Miss Evans keeps the library stocked with a wide variety of both fiction and non-fiction, covering a vast range of genres and topics, to entice even the most reluctant readers. There are always colourful and interesting displays to inspire and encourage, and a variety of tools to help students choose, from ‘What to read if you liked…’ displays and ‘This book in 3 words’ bookmarkers, to a ‘What to Read Next’ lucky dip and occasional Blind Date with a Book!

Year 9 pupils are frequently brought up to the library to browse and borrow books to read both in their English lessons and during their fortnightly library lessons. Lower Sixth students have timetabled private study sessions in the library every week, and classes from all year groups are often brought up by their teachers to explore the sections relevant to their subjects.

The Library Catalogue is available online, so pupils can browse and reserve books, and we also have a Digital Library, where pupils can borrow both audio and ebooks.

Loyalty Card
Big Book Borrows

Loyalty Card

Big Book Borrows

Twice a year Miss Evans puts on a Big Book Borrow event, one just before Christmas and one just before the summer, to enable as many students as possible to borrow some holiday reading. These full-day events enable teachers to bring up their classes and give pupils the chance to choose from a wide array of books specially curated for the event. The library also hosts occasional Browse ‘n’ Borrow events for particular calendar dates, such as Pride Month.

Nurturing Reading for Pleasure

‘Reading for pleasure and nurturing a love of reading in a child's free time is a tangible way to equip children with the reading skills they need to thrive in school and beyond, as well as empower them with the chance to discover new things, both about the world around them and people and cultures they may not yet know, and explore their sense of self’.
- National Literacy Trust

Miss Evans and English teacher Miss Arduino work closely to come up with activities and projects that encourage and nurture a love of reading in all our pupils:

Reading Ambassadors

Keen pupil readers who would like to help us spread the love of reading can become Reading Ambassadors. This is available to choose as a regular weekly Activity, but you can become a Reading Ambassador even if you aren’t able to commit to that.

Projects and enterprises undertaken include:

Going out to primary schools to read with younger children
Creating reading corners and book nooks around the school, which includes trips to Lewes to scour the flea market and charity shops for suitable books and furnishings
Hosting reading and literary events in the library, including author visits
Creating and marketing school-wide competitions
Marketing and contributing to Bede’s Big Book Swap
Representing the Reading Ambassadors at Open Mornings, in assemblies, and at other literary events at school

Brilliant Books & Biscuits

Miss Evans and Miss Arduino read aloud to pupils, from carefully selected award-winning and shortlisted YA fiction. Pupils get their own copies of the books to keep, and during the activity can read along, or sit quietly or do some mindful colouring or a jigsaw puzzle while listening. And there is always a break in the middle for hot chocolate and cookies, when we catch up with everyone and discuss the books we’re reading. We also occasionally go on outings to quirky local bookshops, such as Camilla’s in Eastbourne and Much Ado About Books in Alfriston.

Bede's Community Book Club

This is a reading group that is open to the Bede’s community - members include Senior pupils, parents and older siblings, and teaching and operational staff from Senior and Prep campuses. We read six books a year and meet one evening each half term, in the library, for drinks and nibbles and to chat about the books. The books are carefully chosen by Miss Evans and Miss Arduino, and are selected because they aren’t too long and are lighter in theme, so that reading them is a pleasure and not just another chore to add to your ‘to do’ list. If you would like to find out more about becoming a member, please email sarah.evans@bedes.org.

WellRED

Reading Lists

Here are some lists of brilliant books, the majority of which you can borrow from the library. Click on your year group and see what takes your fancy. If the library doesn’t have it, ask Miss Evans to see if she can order it in for you.

Before you start First Year

First Year

Lower Fifth

Upper Fifth - Upper Sixth

You can follow @bedeslibrary on Bluesky and Instagram for all things library and reading, and TikTok for our Reading Ambassadors’ booktoks.