Libraries

To mark the end of the Lent term, Upper 4 pupils were treated to an inspiring morning of creativity and storytelling with acclaimed author Dave Rudden. Best known for his Knights of the Borrowed Dark trilogy and his Doctor Who titles for the BBC, Dave brought his signature energy and imagination to a special creative writing workshop, where Upper 4 were joined by enthusiastic Year 8 pupils from local visiting schools. With over 900 school visits to his name, Dave knows how to spark young imaginations. He guided pupils through the essential elements of crafting a compelling story, breaking down the journey from a powerful introduction to a satisfying conclusion. Pupils explored how to weave in complications, include a dramatic “all is lost” moment, and build up to an unforgettable climax. Throughout the session, pupils eagerly applied these techniques, developing their own storylines full of creativity and flair. The morning culminated in a lively sharing of their imaginative tales, with each writing group having the opportunity to present their story ideas. There was also a chance for budding writers to meet Dave in person, purchase his books, and have them signed — a perfect memento from a day filled with inspiration, guidance, and storytelling magic.

World Book Week brought a wave of excitement to the Lower School as pupils immersed themselves in a week-long celebration of reading and storytelling. The week kicked off with visits to Bookbugs and Dragon Tales bookshop by Infant pupils. Armed with their World Book Day tokens, pupils had the opportunity to choose a new book to add to their bookshelves at home. Lower One pupil Guy said ‘my favourite part was getting my space book which I get to take home and keep forever! whilst Arthur reported ‘I loved the bookshop because the tree next to the stairs was twice as tall as me!’ On World Book Day itself, the Lower School was buzzing with creativity and imagination as pupils arrived dressed as their beloved book characters. The school corridors were filled with colour and excitement, as pupils showcased a range of costumes from classic storybook heroes to modern-day adventurers. All the Lower School teachers came as Where’s Wally and a special mention should go to Mr Ivory who was resplendent in an amazing Wizard Whitebeard costume. Pupils started the day with a special assembly, where they introduced their fabulous outfits and got the chance to listen to teachers and authors talking about where they enjoy reading, as the theme for World Book Day this year was ‘read your way’. Pupils also visited the Great Booky Book Swap Shop which had been set up by the reading ambassadors, enabling pupils to receive new reading material to take home and enjoy. The library was transformed into a ‘readaxation holiday resort’ and at lunchtime pupils got the chance to sit in deck chairs, relax under palm trees and even play in a sand pit! After lunch pupils enjoyed extended reading time and were able to drop into story sessions as teachers read extracts from funny children’s books.  World Book Day was a huge success, promoting excitement and generating a book buzz throughout the school. The event not only celebrated books but also inspired pupils to explore new stories and widen their literary knowledge.

To mark World Book Day, pupils from all year groups across the school took part in an exciting Book Quote Hunt. Ten carefully chosen quotes from well-loved and lesser-known Young Adult books were hidden in different locations around the school site, each containing a letter clue. The challenge? To find them all within a limited time and piece together the final answer—an anagram formed by the letter clues, revealing the secret location of the prizes! Pupils embraced the challenge with enthusiasm, racing around the school in search of clues. Some approached it with careful strategy, while others took on the hunt at full speed! The energy and excitement were contagious, making it a fun and interactive way to celebrate World Book Day, reminding us all of the power of storytelling and the pleasure that reading can bring to our lives.  Well done to everyone who took part!

Upper 4 spent a WoLLoW lesson in the Undercroft library this week with a focus on reading books in other languages. The session, led by librarians Ms Goodwin and Mr Moore, looked at how to approach this task to make it less daunting: starting small with picture books and realising we can draw meaning from the context if we understand a few words in a sentence. Pupils worked out famous book titles in French, German and Spanish, then had chance to read. They learnt new vocabulary, made clever links and came away with a real sense of accomplishment. We are sure they'll be back to dig into our wide selection of foreign language books available.

This week, our 5th Form Reading Group turned their love of books into a courtroom drama with a mock trial of a famous book character. With passionate debates and well-prepared arguments, the students put President Snow from The Hunger Games on trial for his role in the brutal oppression of Panem. Dividing into prosecution and defence teams, pupils argued whether Snow’s actions were those of a necessary leader or a ruthless tyrant. Witnesses, including characters from the series, were called to give testimony, while a jury of peers readied themselves to weigh the evidence. However, just as the arguments were heating up, period Six beckoned! The trial has been adjourned until next week, leaving everyone eager to return and deliver the final verdict. This engaging activity combined critical thinking and debate skills, and shows just how much stories can inspire discussion beyond the page. Reading Group explores themes in Young Adult fiction through lively discussions, creative games, and fun activities.  Want to join the next debate? Come along to Reading Group next week and be part of the action!

Pupils from L4-L5 gathered in the school library for an enchanting evening of Harry Potter magic. The space was transformed with fairy lights and Hogwarts-themed decorations, creating an atmosphere straight out of the wizarding world. Pupils enjoyed a mix of exciting activities, including a Harry Potter quiz devised by pupils Martha Pearce and Eleanor Peel, that tested even the most dedicated fans. Spell-casting instruction came courtesy of Luna Lovegood, and brought the magic to life as pupils tried their hand at mastering incantations!  Hot chocolate and snacks added to the cosy atmosphere in the library, as did the sounds and sights of our very own Norwich School young witches and wizards. The prizes for the quiz and for best spell casting came from a selection of Hogwarts-themed sweet treats, but luckily with no ill-effects—no one turned into a frog or sprouted tentacles from a rogue Bertie Bott’s Every Flavour Bean!

The ever-popular OUP Very Short Introductions collection is expanding. These short books are always extremely useful, in particular for 6th form students. They provide concise and accessible overviews of a wide range of subjects to support academic studies, to help with Independent Project research, and to broaden pupils' overall general knowledge. Keeping the politics section of the library up to date is crucial for providing pupils with a comprehensive collection of current resources. These are essential to enhance their understanding of contemporary political issues, encourage critical thinking, and better prepare them for informed citizenship. Another subject that is vital to keep updated is the Economics collection in the library; this is vital for offering pupils the most recent insights and practical examples. These new books will enrich their understanding of economic concepts, develop their analytical abilities, and better prepare them for future academic and professional endeavours.  Our understanding of Geography is always expanding, and new books focussing on migration, climate change, ecology and global warming will provide our pupils with the latest information and perspectives. These books will broaden their understanding of physical and human geography, enhance their research skills, and prepare them for further studies and careers in related fields.

As part of our new blog series, Behind the Scenes, we have decided to interview Norwich School's Library Team from both the Lower School and the Senior School to get a sense of their role in the everyday working's of Norwich School, Deborah Goodwin, Mark Moore and Sally Morgan answers the following questions... How long have you worked at Norwich School? Mr Moore: I have worked at Norwich School in the role of Librarian for around 10 years. Ms Goodwin: I started at Norwich School in September 2014. Mrs Morgan: This is the end of my 6th year at the Lower School. What attracted you to the role? Mr Moore: I love reading and learning about new topics and this role gave me the opportunity to enthuse and encourage both pupils and other members of the school community to do the same. The variety of tasks and responsibilities related to the role was also attractive. Ms Goodwin: I had just finished my MSc in Librarianship and I liked the fact that the role incorporated teaching information literacy, promoting reading for pleasure, and supporting teachers. I thought that the variety of the role looked interesting and provided the chance to develop some new skills. Mrs Morgan: I have always been a reader and have a love of children’s literature, which has developed as my own children have grown up. I wanted to be able to make a difference and support pupils who find reading more challenging. How has the role of Librarian changed during your time at Norwich School? Mr Moore: There has certainly been an increased demand to supply resources on a more diverse range of genres and topics. An understanding of the pros and cons of AI in research and how we can incorporate this into what we do as a department is also a current theme which has recently become relevant. Ms Goodwin: Sadly, curriculum pressures have meant that we no longer teach information skills to the younger years, but I love getting involved with the 6th form Independent Project, seeing the fascinating topics that Lower 6 pupils choose to study and helping them to locate the relevant resources. Mrs Morgan: Reading Ambassadors now provide a pupil voice in the library. These are chosen each term from our Lower Two pupils upwards. Each class has a couple of ambassadors who provide a voice in the library, and also give me an insight into reading in the classroom, the stock in class libraries etc Ambassadors get to go to the bookshop once a term to choose new library stock. There are now more author visits and themed days! What does the day-to-day of a Librarian at Norwich School look like? Mr Moore: It’s often extremely varied. One second we could be recommending fiction to a class of Lower 4 pupils and the next we could be helping a Lower 6 pupil create a bibliography for their Independent Project. Other tasks might include resolving IT issues, cataloguing new books, running reading groups and organising literary events, amongst many others. Ms Goodwin: Busy! Some of it is cyclical, with an outreach book event each term, and pupil reading groups each week, but a lot of time is spent helping individual pupils with their enquiries, which can vary from finding foreign language newspapers, locating books about Dadaism, or helping a reader find their latest favourite book series. Mrs Morgan: Library sessions with Infant classes, Jackanory Club at lunchtime, pupils popping in at all times during the day to change or choose a new book, emptying the library returns box, with the help of the U3 library monitors, and returning books to shelves. (MM) What's your favourite part of your role? Mr Moore: The interaction with other members of the school community and having the opportunity to help and inspire pupils in terms of their reading and engagement with books and information sources. Ms Goodwin: I still kick myself sometimes that my job actually involves talking to people about books! Mrs Morgan: Many enjoyable parts include: When a pupil comes into the library unsure of what to read, I am able to recommend a selection of books, one of which they take away. They then enjoy reading it so much that they rush into the library a few days later to get the next book in the series or something by the same author, as they’ve loved reading it. Author talks – spreading the buzz of reading throughout the school. This year we have hosted Jess French, Ivan Bates and Annalise Gray, as well as having a book fair run by Norfolk Children’s Book Centre. World Book Week – visits to local bookshop, dressing up on WBD, spreading the love of reading throughout the school. Activities in School – book swaps, book fairies, themed weeks eg Non-Fiction November, Roald Dahl week etc. Themed events – Harry Potter book night, Tiger Who Came to Tea party for Infants Is there anything you're looking forward to? Mr Moore: I’m looking forward to planning for the 2024/25 academic year. We hope to bring in more inspirational authors and we already have some exciting events in the pipeline. Ms Goodwin: I’m always excited about the next book festival and who we might be able to book for it. We’ve had some amazing, inspirational speakers over the years, and I love finding new talent and introducing our pupils to new authors. Mrs Morgan: Further developing the profile of reading across the Lower School. How else do you get involved with Norwich School life? Mr Moore: I’m also a 4th Form tutor and Geography teacher. Ms Goodwin: In addition to my job in the library, I’m also (Joint) Head of Staff Health and Wellbeing, which is a wonderful addition to my role. I love being able to do what I can to help colleagues in their working lives. Mrs Morgan: I am also a teacher in the Lower School for 50% of my time. This enables me to take part in the wider life of the school, and see pupils as learners as well as readers. I teach U3 English and Infant Outdoor Learning so this is a great mixture of lessons! How does the library team work? Mr Moore: The library team’s ethos is very much centred around the sharing of ideas and perspectives. We work on projects and events together and the lower and senior school libraries are mutually supportive of each other. Ms Goodwin: As there are three of us and three libraries, physically we each spend most of our time in one particular library, but we share ideas, support each other with events - and often borrow books from each other! Mrs Morgan: Brilliantly! Regular meetings and we borrow books from each other frequently. 

Since March, our Upper Four pupils have been immersed in the Carnegie Book Award Shadowing Programme, working their way through the books on this year's Carnegie shortlist. This period of intense reading recently culminated in a vibrant discussion afternoon on Friday 14 June where the whole year group got together to share their insights and opinions on the shortlisted titles. Throughout the programme, many pupils have engaged by writing some thoughtful reviews of the books the Carnegie website, reflecting their understanding and appreciation of the books they have read, and demonstrating their critical thinking and analytical skills. After months of reading and reviewing, pupils cast their votes for their favourite book. "Crossing the Line" by Tia Fisher emerged as their top choice, with the remaining votes were spread fairly evenly across the other shortlisted books. In a twist that few people in school saw coming, the official winner announced was "The Boy in the Tree" by Joseph Coelho. A separate Shadowers’ vote was in line with Norwich School’s views, and “Crossing the Line” won this award, voted for by pupils up and down the country. The participation in the shadowing process overall has been excellent, with pupils engaging with books they might not otherwise have chosen, so that the experience ended up broadening their literary horizons and fostering a deeper appreciation of new genres and narratives.