Our Collection
Our library offers an extensive range of books for pupils to borrow, including fiction, non-fiction, graphic novels and manga. We pride ourselves on providing an inclusive, welcoming space for everyone in our school community, with a diverse and contemporary fiction collection, a range of dyslexia-friendly books, and access to eBooks and audiobooks through our digital library, Sora.
In addition to our print resources, we also have thirty laptops that pupils can use 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.
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 4-step overdue process:
- Pupils receive a reminder email to their school email address 2 days before their books are due to be returned.
- When a book is overdue by 7 days, pupils receive an overdue email reminder requesting they return their book(s) to the library.
- 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.
- When a book is overdue by 28+ days (and pupils have received 3 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 provides a wide range of fiction and non-fiction books to support reading for pleasure, personal development and independent learning. Some books within our library collection 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 school librarian will endeavour to guide pupils towards 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, pupils in Years 7 and 8 are permitted to read and borrow ‘Y9+‘ books, unless a parent or carer chooses to withdraw their consent. If you do not wish your child to be able to borrow books from our ‘Y9+‘ collection, please complete the form below to opt out:
Library Lessons
Pupils in Years 7 and 8 receive fortnightly library lessons as part of their English curriculum. These lessons are delivered by our school librarian, Mr Owens, 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.
Supporting the Wider Curriculum
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, who can offer pupils guidance on effective research techniques and identifying credible sources.
Library Opening Times
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.
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 to promote reading for pleasure across school, including:
- Our ‘Level Up’ Reading Challenge
- The HCS Pupil Choice Award (our new school book award)
- After school book clubs, writing groups and journalism club
- Dedicated ‘Reading for Pleasure’ lessons in English
- A free book for every pupil in Year 7 through the BookBuzz programme
- Author visits and book signings
- Trips to bookshops where pupils can select new library stock
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.
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
- audiobooks and accessible eBooks for pupils with SEND
- a diverse and inclusive fiction collection with LGBTQ+, ethnic minorities and disability representation
Pupils are encouraged to recommend new books for our library using our suggestion box and share their thoughts on the books they read by leaving reviews on our AccessIt web app.
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
Supporting Reading at Home
In a world of screens, apps and short-form content, encouraging children to read isn’t always easy. But research consistently tells us that regular reading has a significant impact on children’s learning, academic progress and future success.
At Hebburn Comprehensive School, reading is a priority. We want every pupil to develop the skills, confidence and enjoyment needed to become a successful, lifelong reader. Reading at home plays an important role in supporting this, helping children to build their vocabulary, develop their understanding and discover a lifelong love of books.
If you were unable to attend our Parent Information Evening on Supporting Reading at Home, you can access the presentation slides and our guidance booklet below. These resources offer practical strategies to encourage reading at home, alongside links to our library webpage and Sora, our digital library of eBooks and audiobooks.
Need some extra support? If you would like advice on encouraging your child to read for pleasure or finding books they will enjoy, please don’t hesitate to contact our school librarian, Mr Owens. He would be delighted to offer recommendations and help your child discover their next favourite book!
