“If there’s one piece of advice I’d give to other schools who are serious about improving pupils’ reading, it’s stick with your vision and don’t be afraid to think big, even if you have got a small space”
“One piece of advice? Yes, use BookSpace!”
Oliver Knight, St Mary’s Bryanston Square
St Mary’s Bryanston Square School
A, small one-form entry primary school in Marylebone, London with just over 200 pupils aged 3-11 years
Summary
A major part of the schools’ improvement plan was to focus on reading and in particular reading for pleasure. Using PTA and private equity funding BookSpace worked with the school to create a bespoke school library full of colourful and creative library furniture.
Challenges
When the local public library closed down, the school’s only access to a wide selection of books went too. They had two choices. Take pupils to a public library further away meaning half a day out of school for each visit or create their own school library.
How BookSpace helped
Transformed a small room used for storage and the odd meeting into a vibrant, exciting primary school library.
Famous London landmarks were cleverly incorporated into the bespoke library shelving.
The school was keen to include a Reading Hideaway but space didn’t allow. Instead BookSpace provided a custom-made circular seat built into the feature wall.
Results
“Reading has become vocal amongst the children now” says Oliver Knight, Yr 6 teacher and library project manager.
“The children see a visit to the library as the highlight of their week!
I was determined not to have bogstandard school library furniture. My vision was for creativity and colour – BookSpace understood straight away. Their library design ideas were amazing & exactly what I was looking for.
If you want something bespoke or unique, don’t be afraid to ask. BookSpace saw the potential this small room had and have created a wonderful, vibrant school library”.
Library Design Service
At BookSpace we love helping to design reading spaces no matter how large or small. Our experienced team of designers, in-depth knowledge of primary schools and superb range of contemporary school library furniture combine to ensure that BookSpace is the ideal choice. Whatever the size and shape of your space, whichever the year group taught, we can create your dream school library.
FREE, no obligation design service
Call 0121 246 2777
More Case Studies
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Fircroft Primary School, London
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St Patrick’s CofE Primary School, Solihull
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Norwich High School for Girls
A forest and castle themed library designed to enrich pupils’ educational experience
Elsley Primary School, Wembley
An amphitheatre design where speaking, listening & reading come together
Kingsley School
Turning one Head Teacher’s dreams for a treehouse in the library into reality
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“The customer care was brilliant – equivalent to the John Lewis experience!”
Great Ouse Primary Academy
A purpose-built new school in Bedfordshire with an amazing Learning Street running from one end of the school to the other.
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Troedyrhiw Community Primary School
A school council project resulted in pupils driving the installation of a new library in their small Welsh village school.
Teagues Bridge Primary School
A brand new woodland-themed library has got pupils at Teagues Bridge Primary School buzzing with excitement
Berkhamsted Prep School
A Prep and a Pre-prep Library. Both designed to get pupils curious about books.
Norwood Primary School
We’ve just designed and installed a magical woodland library for pupils at Norwood Primary School and they love it
Waterside Primary School
It’s one thing to have a vision and a dream. It’s another to have it turned into reality
Aston Community Education Trust
An integrated approach offering best value across three primary schools
Barrowby CofE Primary School
A library designed to focus on reading for pleasure, driven by guidelines laid down in the new National Curriculum.
Birmingham Children’s Libraries
Issue rates have increased by 19% with the installation of 5 brand new children’s libraries
Trumpington Meadows Primary
Literacy, Numeracy, Science & History ‘Curiosity Shops’, where children extend their learning, follow their instincts and above all explore
Oliver Goldsmith Primary School
16 classroom reading corners throughout the nursery and school
Kensington Community Primary School
Creating a reading space to bring the whole school together
Eagle House Independent School
A new library designed to become integral to the way pupils learn
