There was a lot of excitement at Sir William Burrough Primary School earlier this month as students, staff, and supporters got together to celebrate the opening of the school’s new library.
The opening marks an important milestone in our support of the Libraries for Primaries campaign – a national movement led by the National Literacy Trust and Penguin Books.
The campaign aims to ensure every UK state primary school has a library by 2028, and this new library brings that goal one step closer. We’re proud to support the National Literacy Trust to open two libraries over two years, helping more children have access to fun and exciting books.
In the morning, children’s author Eve Wersocki Morris visited the school to celebrate the new library. Eve is a rising star in children’s literature, known for fantastic books like The Bird Singers and The Wildstorm Curse. She spoke movingly about her journey overcoming dyslexia to become a celebrated author.
The children also took part in a creative workshop led by Rob Biddulph, an award-winning author and illustrator of books such as Draw with Rob and Odd Dog Out. Rob showed the children how he draws his characters, inspiring them to create some wonderful artwork.
The event was a fun and joyful celebration from the start to finish, but the impact doesn’t just stop there. Teachers and staff will receive training and ongoing support from the National Literacy Trust to help them build a strong reading culture across the school. As a result, children will be able to regularly explore new books and connect more deeply with them.
The library was opened with a warm welcome from two children’s authors as well as thoughtful speeches from teachers, pupils, and supporters. Our Chair, Denise Jones, also spoke at the event before officially opening the library by cutting the ribbon. It was a brilliant day, made possible through our partnership with the National Literacy Trust.
Jasmine Tucker, School Libraries Programme Manager at the National Literacy Trust:
“We believe libraries are the beating heart of the school community. They provide safe, welcoming places for children to develop empathy, connect with their peers and families, and explore the world around them through reading. We are so delighted to be working with the Aldgate and Allhallows Foundation to support schools in Tower Hamlets to develop their reading for pleasure culture, and we hope Sir William Burrough Primary School will enjoy their new library for many years to come.”
The library is a bright, welcoming space filled with colourful books, quiet reading corners, and space for reflection. We’re so proud to see that our support has helped the National Literacy Trust to transform an underused room into a space where children can enjoy reading.
Sir William Burrough Primary School is just one of many schools that have been involved in the Libraries for Primaries campaign. With each library created, we come closer to making sure all children, regardless of their background, have the opportunity to discover the joy of reading.
Read more about the Libraries for Primaries campaign.
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