Students at our school are benefiting from a major addition to the library shelves this term, thanks to a generous £500 grant awarded by the Alton Lions Club.

The donation has enabled the school to purchase a range of high quality non fiction books, expanding the resources available to students across all year groups. Packed with detailed illustrations, real world stories, and fascinating facts, the new titles cover subjects ranging from science and natural history to world events and technology.

The arrival of the new collection coincides with the National Year of Reading 2026, a nationwide campaign led by the Department for Education and the National Literacy Trust. The national initiative encourages young people to "Go All In" on the topics they love through books.

While fictional stories are a fundamental part of any school library, educators emphasise that non fiction plays a vital role in developing literacy, particularly for students who do not see themselves as traditional readers. Books built around facts, real life events, or practical mechanics often serve as an ideal entry point to help children build confidence and develop reading habits for pleasure.

The new non fiction titles have already been catalogued and are now available for students to borrow during library hours.

The school community extends its sincere gratitude to the members of the Alton Lions Club for their continued investment in local education and youth literacy.