Non-Fiction November

We are delighted that Chris Routh, our Librarian, was one of the Judges for the School Library Association Information Book Awards, announced on Thursday 5th November, and that our students in Years 7, 8 and 9 were able to vote earlier in the year for their favourite non-fiction publications of the last 12 months.

The Library ingeniously came up with a method of sharing details of each book as access to the Library is currently restricted due to Covid-19 and the students were unable to touch and browse the books as part of their selection process. Showcasing each title on PowerPoint, the Library team were able to offer a synopsis, images of the cover and inside pages and provide descriptions. Sadly, as not all Schools across the UK were in a position to follow suit, the Children’s Choice element of the awards was suspended this year, but our students still enjoyed getting involved. The shortlisted books are all part of the Library’s stock so if any of the titles particularly appealed, students are able to request to borrow the book from the Library and enjoy the title at home as our books are still being lent out and quarantined on return in a Covid-safe process.

The SLA Information Award is just one activity contributing to Non-Fiction November, a month of opportunity to indulge in non-fiction under this year’s theme of ‘the planet we share’. The Book Clubs have enjoyed appropriately themed quizzes and the School is currently adorned with posters of non-fiction books provided by the Library to inspire the community to try something new. There are also posters showing staff members’ top picks celebrating their favourite non-fiction titles and explaining why they would recommend them. Head of English, Tom Rawlings, hosted a Collect on Friday 13th November, featuring videos from staff talking about their choices to the whole School.

On Thursday 26th November students participated in a ‘Drop Everything and Read’ event, where they each enjoyed their own free copy of ‘The i’ newspaper, aimed at readers and commuters with limited time, and perfect for a speedy insight into current events.

Sally Saunders, Head of Careers, reflected “My group really enjoyed the session. We all read our papers and then went around the group in the style of ‘The Newspaper Review’ where students presented their stories. It generated a lot of discussion and we talked about issues such as fake news and bias.”

Didier Descamps, Head of Modern Foreign Languages, commented “Wonderful initiative. I was amazed to see my Lower Sixth tutees so engaged with their newspapers. Whoever thought that young people weren’t interested or capable of reading and old-fashioned newspaper anymore, was proven wrong. It was one of those rare occasions where they were off their devices and tucked in!’

For those that enjoy writing as much as reading, students in Years 7, 8 and 9 are being invited to enter a poetry competition, launched through their Library lessons.

Chris commented “National Non-Fiction November is an established feature of life for the Leighton Park community as the Library team have been encouraging readers to explore this genre through a month of focused events for several years. We are pleased that we have been able to adapt our usual plans to the current situation and to create new ways of sharing books with students so that everyone in the community continues to have access to the Library and the pleasures of reading.”