Christmas came early to Brooke Weston Academy as all students in Year 7 received a free book from the Library as part of the 2022 Bookbuzz programme. Bookbuzz, a reading programme from Book Trust, supports schools to encourage reading for pleasure and develop a whole school reading culture.

Students were given the opportunity to choose their own book, from 17 titles, to take home and keep. The books were all selected by a panel of experts to ensure quality, suitability and to encourage reading for pleasure and were designed to appeal to all students, regardless of their reading level.

Year 12 students Keeley Weatherley and David Keuneke, who are both undertaking a Library Internship as part of the Year 12 IEC programme, carefully wrapped over 180 books with help from DofE volunteers Amber Plowman and Willow Young, both in Year 9.

The most popular title with the students this year was ‘Orion Lost’ by Alastair Chisholm, a science fiction adventure set aboard a large spacecraft.

The scheme has been running for several years at Brooke Weston Academy and Librarian Wendy Mann said ‘The Bookbuzz programme introduces the students to different genres of books they might not have read before. Being able to give the book as a gift to all the Year 7 students is really something special, and it helps to encourage a positive attitude towards reading.’

All the Bookbuzz books are available to borrow from the Library and in the New Year, a competition will be launched for Year 7 students to write a book review on their chosen title and be in with a chance of winning more Bookbuzz titles.

Find out more about the Bookbuzz programme.