Library

The development of student literacy and a love of reading is a key focus of the Academy. The library keeps an up to date and diverse collection of literature and non fiction suitable for students at all levels of their individual reading journey.

We assess the reading ages of all students three times per year using the STAR Reader programme, from this data teachers use this information to inform their planning for individual students and we expect all students to have an appropriate reading book as part of their equipment to encourage students to read for pleasure. For any students who are below their chronological reading age they receive interventions such as reading in smaller groups or reading one to one with a reading coach. Students are encouraged to read for at least 20 minutes each day.  It is very important that your child reads frequently to fully benefit from this initiative, and we ask you to encourage and support them in this at home.

To celebrate the joy of reading the library hosts a number of events throughout the school year ranging from author visits, we most recently had Catherine Johnson, author of ‘Journey Back to Freedom’ share her books and experiences as an author with our students. We host regular ‘Reading Jamboree’s’ where students celebrate and share new books with their peers and partake in a whole range of literature based activities on World Book Day and National StoryTelling Week. Our students also enjoy outreach visits to a local nursing home where they read with the residents. 

Students are also able to use the library during break times, lunch times, before and after school for homework and a quiet place to read. There are also a variety of extra curricular activities throughout the year including book clubs, chess and scrabble tournaments and manga clubs.

Fay McKnight
Librarian and LRC Manager

City of London Academy Islington

Prebend Street | Islington | N1 8PQ

Telephone: 020 7226 8611

Registered in England: No 6426966, City of London Academy Islington Limited is a Registered Charity no: 1121962