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This World Book Day, on Thurs 6th March 2025, Wellington teachers are asking pupils to “Drop Everything and Listen”. During the first period, teachers across the school will read aloud a poem, article, or piece of literature of their choice to the class to inspire pupils. A similar session will run in the library where Head Librarian, Lucy Atherton, will read an excerpt from Beryl Markham’s gripping memoir, West with the Night. Wellington’s popular school therapy dogs will join pupils in the library at breaktime.
World Book Day is one of several initiatives run by Wellington’s team of librarians to encourage reading for pleasure beyond the curriculum. Independent reading has numerous benefits for teenagers – as well as relaxation and time spent away from screens, immersing themselves in a book can help them to develop self-awareness, empathy and a greater understanding of others and the wider world.
Reading for pleasure as a child and teenager has a positive impact on success in later life. One valuable thing parents can do for their young people is be seen to be reading and share those book conversations with their children, taking an interest in what their children are reading too. – Literature Review: The impact of reading for pleasure and empowerment
As a boarding school, we try to build on pupils’ existing reading habits as soon as they arrive in the Third Form. For the past fifteen years we have given every new Third Former a book to read over the summer holidays as a way of connecting them to the library and keeping them reading over the long break (You can view the full list HERE). We follow up with some interesting discussions of their responses to the book during induction and tutorials. We allow pupils a ten minute extension to lights-out at the end of each day for quiet reading in bed as a way to wind down. Third formers also come into the library for dedicated reading periods as part of their English classes and books are read together and discussed in tutor groups across all cohorts.
The Mallinson Library is a hub on the College campus and was redeveloped in 2012 to offer a modern, vibrant learning environment to the whole school community. It houses around 9000 fiction titles and 16000 non-fiction print books. Students can also access a large e-library as well as daily newspapers, subscription-only magazines like New Scientist, JSTOR academic journal articles and short academic video lectures on MASSOLIT.
The range of books stocked is hugely wide-ranging, from academic texts to support learning and revision to classic fiction, graphic novels, YA, fantasy, short verse novels, non-fiction, children’s books, sports biographies and a rapidly growing Manga collection. Book award shortlists are stocked ranging from the Women’s Prize for Fiction and the new Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction to the Royal Society Science Book Prize.
“We want pupils to build lifelong habits of reading for pleasure so we try to offer as much choice as possible. We encourage them to tell us about their interests and to tip us off about any new series that they have discovered so that we are stocking what most appeals to them. We firmly believe that no type of book is less worthy than another. At the moment, some of our most popular authors are Dan Freedman, Neal Shusterman, Holly Jackson and Sarah Govett. Our pupil-led Lower Sixth Form book club recently read Yellow Face by Rebecca F. Kuang and it sparked some lively debate” Lucy Atherton, Head Librarian
Upon joining Wellington College, Third Form pupils benefit from three research skills sessions in the library to help them access the resources and make the most of our incredible facilities. As well as familiarising themselves with the collection, pupils are taught how to critically evaluate and cite sources, avoid plagiarism and use AI ethically. In an era of fake news and disinformation, it is vital that we teach children how to question what they read online and identify reputable sources. With this in mind, our team of librarians curate and publish a weekly news digest with a round-up of recommended news articles, documentaries, podcast episodes and video clips.
Like our innovative educational initiatives, Fragments and Courses within Courses, Wellington’s reading projects spark curiosity about different subject matters, expand pupils’ knowledge beyond the curriculum and develop a love of storytelling which will serve them well in their lives beyond College. For pupils with educational needs who might struggle with reading we provide robust reading skills support and offer dyslexia-friendly novels including those of Tom Palmer.
Lucy and the team regularly host author talks for pupils, including recently from Dan Freedman, author of Unstoppable and from author of ‘Run, Rebel’, Manjeet Mann and earlier visit from Sarah Crossan, author of The Weight of Water and One. Dan Freedman also spoke to Wheeler Programme pupils from our partner state schools.
Beyond author talks, Wellington’s thriving book clubs provide pupils, teachers, and the wider Wellington community with opportunities to connect over literature. Lucy Atherton’s Third and Fourth Form Extension Book Club will soon be reading Not the End of the World by Hannah Ritchie, a hopeful book about climate change.
The Wellington Community Book Club also welcomes parents, staff, and alumni. The next meeting is on Thursday, 13th March 2025, at 7:30 pm in the Library Moral Room, and new members are always welcome—whether they’ve read the book or just want to join the discussion!
For more information or to join, please email community@wellingtoncollege.org.uk.
