Library and Learning Hub

Library and Learning Hub 

Our Collection 

The library and learning hub offers an extensive range of fiction, non-fiction, graphic novels and manga available for pupils to borrow, as well as a variety of magazine subscriptions covering topics from healthy eating recipes to the latest film reviews.  

Our library is an inclusive space that all members of our school community can enjoy and this is reflected in our diverse and modern fiction collection, dyslexia-friendly reading range, and audiobook subscription service tailored to our SEN pupils. 

In addition to our print resources, we also have thirty laptop computers that pupils can book for online reading and independent study, as well as a printer pupils can use for printing coursework and research materials. 

Browsing the Library Online 

Pupils can access our library catalogue at home or on any mobile device via the AccessIt web app, which students can sign into using their school accounts. 

The web app allows pupils to search for suitable reading materials, share book reviews, create bespoke reading lists and place book reservations. Our library team updates the web app regularly with new arrivals, upcoming events, author interviews and useful learning resources. A helpful guide on how to use the AccessIt web app can be found below: 

Borrowing Rules 

Pupils can borrow a maximum of two books at any one time for a period of two weeks. If a pupil needs a book for longer, they can renew their loan at the library or online via the AccessIt web app.

Pupils are not fined for lightly damaged books and general wear and tear, though we do ask that parents and carers encourage children to treat their library books with care. Wherever possible, we will try to avoid fees on overdue books and will only collect a replacement fee of £3 per book after books have been overdue for 28+ days and efforts to retrieve them in line with our Overdue Policy (see below) have been unsuccessful. Replacement fees are collected via ParentPay and are used to offset the costs of purchasing a replacement copy for the library. Alternatively, parents / carers can provide a suitable replacement copy of their own (this can be second-hand) in place of the £3 fee.

Overdue Policy 

To avoid books from becoming overdue, we operate a four-step overdue process:

  1. Pupils receive a reminder email to their school email address 2 days before their books are due to be returned.
  2. When a book is overdue by 7 days, pupils receive an overdue email reminder requesting they return their book(s) to the library.
  3. When a book is overdue by 14 days, pupils receive a second overdue email reminder, which is forwarded to their form tutor who will remind them to return their book(s) to the library.
  4. When a book is overdue by 28+ days (and pupils have received three reminders), parents / carers will be notified and advised to return the book within 7 days or pay a £3 replacement fee via ParentPay.

Y9+ Books (Senior Fiction) 

Our school library has a wide variety of fiction and non-fiction titles available for pupils to borrow covering a broad range of subjects and genres. Some of these titles are intended for an older teenage or young adult readership of 14 and above and are labelled as “Y9+”. This categorisation is not based on reading ability, but on content such as language, themes and issues. While our library team will endeavour to guide pupils toward books that are considered age-appropriate, we believe it is important that pupils have the freedom to explore and educate themselves on different subjects, including those that may be considered mature or contentious, and that the safest way to do so is through a collection of carefully considered reading materials. As such, our pupils in Year 7 and Year 8 may borrow ‘Y9+’ books if they have been granted parental consent. If you are happy for your child to borrow ‘Y9+’ books, please complete the form below:

Senior Fiction / Non-Fiction (Y9+) Books

Supporting Learning 

Teachers can bring the curriculum to life with library research lessons where pupils are placed at the centre of their learning through hands-on, research-based projects. These sessions enhance subject knowledge while providing opportunities to develop confidence and study skills, and are delivered in collaboration with our school librarian, Mr Owens, who can offer pupils guidance on effective research techniques and identifying credible sources.

Our pupils in Years 7 and 8 receive fortnightly library lessons as part of their English curriculum. These lessons are taught in partnership with our school librarian and focus on responsible research, digital citizenship, literacy skills and reading for pleasure. Our library lessons provide pupils with crucial independent reading time and the opportunity to speak with a librarian to receive tailored reading recommendations based on their interests and reading ability.

Opening Times and Extra-curricular Activities 

The library and learning hub is open Monday – Friday from 8am – 4pm (3:30pm close on Friday).  

At Hebburn Comprehensive we strive to foster a love of reading that will stay with pupils long after they leave our school. We offer a range of after-school activities that cater to pupils of all abilities and interests, including a manga / anime and comic club, book discussion groups (with biscuits of course!) and a board game club. The library is also open before school from 8am for any pupil who wishes to read or study before the school day begins.

Library Timetable (Opening Hours, After-school Club Schedule)

Please note: Pupils attending after-school clubs in the library will be asked to keep noise to a minimum to avoid disturbing pupils who wish to read quietly or study. 

Student Librarians 

Our student librarian team are responsible for checking out books, creating displays, organising and maintaining the library, and providing advice and guidance to library users. Student librarians play a huge role in the development of our school library, serving as reading role models for the whole school community while providing a student voice to ensure that all decisions made regarding our library reflect the needs and interests of our pupils.  

Our student librarian scheme features a full training programme, with bronze, silver and gold certifications awarded to pupils as they develop their knowledge and progress in their role as a student librarian. Pupils who participate in the programme will develop a number of skills and qualities such as improved self-esteem, an increased sense of responsibility and ownership, communication and problem-solving skills, and the ability to work as part of a team. Our student librarian team also get to enjoy perks such as out-of-school visits to bookshops and public libraries, first look at new books in the library, workshops with authors and guest speakers, and celebratory library parties and award ceremonies. 

Literacy Live

As often as is possible we invite authors to visit Hebburn Comprehensive School to speak with our pupils about their writing careers and the inspiration behind their work. Our Year 7 pupils recently received a virtual visit from Carnegie-shortlisted author, Sophie Anderson who answered questions from pupils and discussed the writing process and inspiration behind her debut novel, The House with Chicken Legs. These sessions always prove immensely popular with our pupils and, as many studies have shown, are one of the most effective ways of engaging young people with reading. 

Reading for Pleasure

Reading for Pleasure 

Research shows that reading for pleasure can have a major impact on children’s academic success. Pupils who enjoy reading are more likely to perform better across all subjects, have a greater mastery of grammar and vocabulary, and develop better empathy skills.

We run a number of initiatives that encourage pupils to read for pleasure, such as:

· KS3 Reading Houses (with house points and prizes awarded for reading)

· Our ‘Level Up’ Reading Challenge

· The HCS Pupil Choice Award (our new school book award)

· After school book clubs and writing groups

· Weekly ‘Reading for Pleasure’ drop-ins from our school librarian during Afternoon Meetings

 

World Book Day

https://youtu.be/KuSVBVSMNP4

For pupils to become life-long readers it is important they have access to books that match their needs and interests. Our library collection has been curated with our pupils in mind and includes:

  • an extensive range of manga and graphic novels
  • dyslexia-friendly titles and Hi-Lo short stories for EAL learners
  • an audiobook catalogue subscription specifically for our SEN pupils
  • a diverse and inclusive fiction collection with LGBTQ+, ethnic minorities and disability representation

Pupils are invited to recommend new books for our library using our suggestion box and can share their thoughts on the books they read by leaving reviews on our AccessIt web app.

The HCS Pupil Choice Award

The HCS Pupil Choice Award is an exciting new initiative that celebrates the very best modern books for young people. Unlike traditional book awards judged by adults, this award is entirely decided by the pupils of Hebburn Comprehensive School. Our pupil Award Ambassadors take the lead by selecting the longlist, and once a shortlist is agreed upon, every pupil in the school gets the chance to vote for their favourite book. The winning author is invited into school at the end of the year to receive a special award and meet our pupils.
The award provides a fantastic opportunity for pupils to explore outstanding novels, share their opinions, and develop a lifelong love of reading.
Take a look at the longlist for the HCS Pupil Choice Award 2025:

Reading For Pleasure Parent Guide For KS3 4

Reading Intervention

Reading Intervention

All Year 7 pupils complete a STAR reading assessment when they join our school in order to help us identify pupils in need of additional literacy support. Children with reading ages significantly below their chronological age are screened to identify their literacy need and are matched to the literacy intervention programme that will benefit them most:

Decoding Intervention

Pupils who are not yet secure in phonics (i.e. decoding) will receive a combination of Lexia Core5 Reading and Read Write Inc. Fresh Start with a designated teaching assistant. This approach combines independent online practice (Lexia) with one-to-one and small group teacher-led instruction (Fresh Start) to maximise progress and ensure rapid recovery.

Fluency Intervention

Children who are secure in phonics but not yet reading fluently will receive computer adaptive Reading Plus sessions to improve reading stamina, and / or small group Reading Booster sessions with our trained member of staff to improve confidence, skill and pace when reading aloud.

Comprehension Intervention

Children who are reading fluently but are having difficulty inferring meaning and identifying contextual information from a text will receive small group Reading Booster sessions with our school librarian, with a combination of guided reading of a fiction novel, and Reading VIPERS non-fiction exercises to strengthen comprehension skills in six key reading domains (vocabulary, inference, prediction, explanation, retrieval and summarising).

Pupils are reassessed at the end of their intervention programme to measure growth and map further support. In order to maximise progress, we strongly encourage parents and carers to read with their children at home and request that all pupils read for a minimum of 20 minutes per day. Our school library is stocked with engaging and appropriately challenging books for pupils of all reading abilities and pupils are encouraged to borrow books to read in their free time. If you have any questions or require any advice with supporting your child’s reading at home, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

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Reading Intervention 

Pupils are assessed on entry in year 7 and their reading levels recorded. Pupils with low reading ages will be identified and additional support will be provided. 

Examples of reading intervention: 

  • Small group work with the school librarian and/or a member of the teaching staff. Pupils will be reassessed after a set period of time and groups refreshed 
  • Small group work with a designated intervention teacher who delivers sessions on writing, reading and phonics 
  • Small group work with LSAs using the Lexia Software programme 
  • Reading Buddy programme, also known as Inspiring Readers 
  • All KS3 pupils have access to Literacy Planet, a software which supports literacy progress through games and activities 

Reading Time

Time to Read 

Reading for pleasure is a life-enhancing habit which also helps students improve their literacy skills.  We encourage students to select books they’ll enjoy, but which also offer an appropriate level of challenge.   

Our pupils in Years 7 and 8 receive fortnightly library lessons as part of their English curriculum. These lessons are taught in partnership with our school librarian and focus on responsible research, digital citizenship, literacy skills and reading for pleasure. Our library lessons provide pupils with crucial independent reading time and the opportunity to speak with a librarian to receive tailored reading recommendations based on their interests and reading ability.

Key stage three students participate in guided reading during afternoon meeting, three times a week. When they will read contemporary fiction together as a year group.

Students are encouraged to carry a reading book as part of their basic equipment from home or from the school library.