SMITHILLS SCHOOL
SUCCESS FOR ALL
THE HIVE
We are pleased to open our library, The Hive, throughout the school day. The Hive is accessible to pupils before and after school as well at at break and during lunchtime. Pupils can choose from thousands of books to take home and enjoy for two weeks before returning or re-booking. The Hive is staffed by friendly, welcoming and knowledgeable staff members who can help pupils to choose the right book for them.
The wide range of texts available range from page-turners, young adult fiction, graphic novels and classics to the First News children’s newspaper and the National Geographic. We also stock a wide range of non-fiction, from books about animals and our planet to the intricacies of ballet or modern warfare. Every child will find something to enjoy at The Hive.
We are proud to offer a range of games and activities, including the ever-popular Chess clubs, alongside our computers and iPads to give pupils a relaxed, friendly space to complete their Sparx Reader homework.
Our display shelves feature regular highlights – come and find a cozy corner to pick up a seasonal favourite or find the trending fiction signposted on one of our tables!
READING FOR PLEASURE
At Smithills’ School we know that nurturing a love of reading supports pupils learning, development and mental well-being. Reading a variety of books from authors of different backgrounds and experiences will help our pupils to develop into successful, powerful and intelligent communicators. Reading for pleasure also helps pupils to develop a wider social and cultural capital – that is to say, a knowledge of events and experiences outside of their own immediate circles.
Our 16-before-16 programme is designed to spark a lifelong love of literature within our pupils. The list of 16 books for our pupils to have read before their 16th birthday has been carefully curated to include classics from the literary canon from authors like Agatha Christie, Lewis Carol and JD Salinger, as well as contemporary genre writers including Mark Haddon, Louis Lowry and Phillip Pulman, so there is plenty on this list for all our pupils.
When pupils complete our reading challenge, they receive a Waterstones voucher to continue their reading journey.
We are proud of our Session 0 Reading Programme, offering pupils the chance to get to grips with contemporary and classic literature linked with our school ethos of community, excellence and independence – each of these books has been specially selected as an enjoyable, page-turning class read with deep and engaging social contexts to promote British Values.
In class, our teachers modelling reading aloud with fluency throughout the school day. We support our pupils to engage with literacy by:
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Providing the time for reading across curriculum
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Creating a sociable, zen reading environment at The Hive
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Creating a reading culture where books are regularly discussed among peers and adults
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Encouraging use of our library The Hive and Bolton public library