The Redlands Library

At Redlands Primary School, we believe that reading unlocks the curriculum, fuels imagination, and instils a lifelong love of learning. That’s why we embarked on a journey to create a vibrant, inspiring, and inclusive school library—a space that truly belongs to our children and reflects their love of books.

A Library Designed by Children, for Children

The transformation began with our pupils. We wanted them to feel a sense of ownership and pride in their library, so we started by asking them to review images of other school libraries. They discussed what they liked, what felt exciting, and what would make reading an adventure. Their ideas shaped the entire project.

To bring their vision to life, we partnered with art students from the local university, who ran workshops with every class. These sessions allowed children to express their ideas through drawings, colour palettes, and themes, which the artists then used to create stunning murals for the library walls. The result? A space that is both magical for younger children and practical for older pupils, capturing the joy of reading through imaginative artwork.

A Community Effort: Books, Fundraising & Big Names

Building a fully stocked library required more than just creativity—it needed community support. Thanks to an incredible fundraising effort led by our PTA, we were able to purchase nearly 1,000 brand-new books, ensuring our collection was modern, diverse, and engaging for all readers.

One of the standout moments of this journey was a charity stand-up event at South Street Theatre in Reading, where comedian Sara Pascoe gathered some of her friends to raise funds for our library. This generous support allowed us to bring this vision to life, proving how much can be achieved when a school and its community come together.

A Grand Opening with a Special Guest

To mark the official opening of the library, we welcomed renowned author and poet AF Harold, who not only donated signed books but also spoke passionately to the children about the power of reading and the magic of libraries.

The event was attended by BBC journalists, who captured the pride and excitement of our pupils as they toured their new library, showing off their favourite reading corners and mural designs. AF Harold then cut the ribbon, officially opening the space for all children to enjoy.

A Celebration of Storytelling

As part of the celebration, AF Harold led a special session on the confidence needed to be a writer, encouraging our pupils to dream big, embrace creativity, and believe in their own voices. The day concluded with a special screening of his Netflix animation, bringing his stories to life on the big screen for our children to enjoy.

A Library at the Heart of Our School

Now, our children are actively using the library, borrowing books, and finding new stories to love. This project wasn’t just about creating a space—it was about placing reading at the heart of our school improvement journey, making it central to everything we do.

We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to:

Our PTA for their tireless fundraising efforts
Sara Pascoe and her fellow comedians for an unforgettable charity event
AF Harold for his generosity, wisdom, and passion for storytelling
The BBC for capturing this special moment
The university artists who helped bring our children’s vision to life
Four Bears Books Caversham who sourced all the books for our new library and are offering discounts in store to Redlands families

This is just the beginning. The Redlands library will continue to grow, inspire, and support our pupils in becoming lifelong readers and learners. We are thrilled to be launching our ‘Year of Reading’, where authors, poets, and illustrators will visit our school to further ignite a love of storytelling.

This is our library, our stories, and our future—and we couldn’t be prouder.