Building a Reading Culture: A Whole-School Commitment During the National Year of Reading
During the National Year of Reading, one school has placed reading firmly at the centre of its community. Through a carefully developed library, purposeful reading spaces and the use of Ready Steady Read Together, pupils at Sacred Heart Primary School are discovering not only how to understand texts but also how much joy books can bring.
Across the school, reading is not treated as a single lesson or activity; it shapes the culture of the school day. From classrooms to the library, pupils encounter a rich range of stories, information texts and poetry that spark curiosity and encourage exploration.
If You’re Into It, Read Into It
The National Year of Reading encourages schools to ‘Go all in!’ on reading for pleasure. At Sacred Heart, this message is visible throughout the school. Reading is at the heart of learning and woven through daily experiences.
Children encounter books everywhere: in classrooms, in carefully organised reading areas and in the newly developed library. The aim is simple: when pupils experience a wide range of literature, they begin to see reading as something meaningful, enjoyable and worth pursuing beyond the lesson.
The school's use of Ready Steady Read Together helps children develop strong comprehension skills. At the same time, the programme opens the door to a wide range of literature that links directly to the rich collection of books in the school library. The result is a reading culture where structured learning naturally leads to personal reading choices.
Year 5 pupil Izora explains how the two connect:
“The RSRT lessons are fun and so is the library. I would choose to continue reading the RSRT books in the library.”
Year 6 pupil Aoife described how history learning connects with reading:
“We are doing WW2 in history, so I love the basket about WW2 books. In Ready Steady Read together we are learning about Anne Frank so it means I can find out more.”
For many children, a story encountered in a lesson becomes the starting point for further reading.
Year 4 pupil Ollie described his experience:
“Podkin One-Ear – I wanted to know what happened next. I loved it and want to read the rest.” Pupils regularly explore books linked to topics they study in lessons.
Pupils also explore books connected to their interests and hobbies. Year 4 pupil Alicia shared how reading connects with her love of football:
“It will make me want to read more. I love playing football so I think I would choose to read the graphic novel football books.”
This approach reflects the core message of the campaign: when children read about things they care about, they want to read more.
A Library Designed to Inspire
The school library itself has been a long-term vision and has become a vibrant centre for reading.
Hannah Speke, who led the project, describes the transformation:
“The library was an unused space at the end of a school corridor. We needed to promote reading and create something magical to entice the children in.”
The journey took several years. Structural changes were required, including installing a door that now opens directly onto the playground. The next stage will expand reading opportunities outdoors, allowing children to enjoy books beyond the classroom walls.
Hannah explains that the library was always intended to reflect the school's wider reading culture.
“Class libraries and reading areas in classrooms were already purposeful, but the whole-school library needed to showcase the same love of reading.”
To achieve this, Hannah carefully organised the space and invested in a wide range of new books. The collection reflects pupils’ interests while also linking to the texts used in RSRT and Ready Steady Write lessons. This connection allows children to deepen their engagement with stories and topics that capture their imagination.
Encouraging Curiosity and Research
The library also includes a research area where pupils can use Chromebooks to explore topics linked to their reading. This space supports both reading and digital literacy, allowing children to investigate questions sparked by books.
Year 6 pupil Elias enjoys using the technology to deepen his interests:
“I like the research area because I can use the Chromebooks to do research about the books we’re interested in. I love reading books about dragons and fantasy, so I use the library to find those.”
Even younger pupils are developing their curiosity through reading and research.
For Year 2 pupil Harry, the excitement comes from exploring authors:
“I’m finding out on the Chromebook what Julia Donaldson’s first book was.”
A Whole-School Celebration of Reading
The school’s commitment to reading was especially visible during World Book Day. The celebrations included a masked reader event, a costume catwalk inspired by Julia Donaldson and Roald Dahl characters and visits from the Mayor and Mayoress of Wirral. The Mayor, who is a former pupil, officially opened the new library on Thursday 5 March.
Pupils also brought books from home to share stories from different cultures, reflecting the school’s commitment to inclusion and representation. The celebrations reinforced a key aim: ensuring that every child has access to books and welcoming spaces where they can read.
A Reading Culture Built Together
Creating this culture has been a collective effort. Staff across the school have worked together to make reading visible and valued in every classroom.
Hannah highlights the importance of leadership and shared commitment:
“When passionate leaders drive reading, everyone sees it and joins in.”
Future plans include appointing library ambassadors who will help lead reading initiatives and encourage younger pupils to explore the space.
For the school community, the library represents far more than a room filled with books. It reflects a shared commitment to helping children become curious, knowledgeable and confident readers.
As Hannah puts it:
“Reading is at the forefront of learning. This space shows how much we value it.”
And judging by the enthusiasm of the pupils, that passion for reading is already spreading throughout the school. 📚
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