The School Library Association are pleased to announce the 2024 shortlist for the SLA Enterprise of the Year Award, which is proudly sponsored by Reading Cloud.
The Enterprise of the Year Award, running since 2022, celebrates one-off or progressive projects which contribute towards reading and literacy in schools.
Chair of the Judges, Ruth Horsman said, "This year’s shortlist demonstrates what can be achieved when a whole school community gets behind a project. It is such an honour to recognise all the extraordinary people who have worked so hard to propel a life-changing love of reading into the lives of pupils.”
The Enterprise of the Year 2024 Shortlist is as follows:
The Cherwell School, Oxford
Inspired by Finnish libraries’ move away from plastic book protection, and her own pupils’ passion for environmentalism, librarian Caterina Balistreri set out to eliminate plastic book covers from The Cherwell School Library.
The plastic book jackets were replaced with fabric sleeves, hand made by a group of staff, students and parents using recycled and remnant fabrics donated by local businesses. The fabric book sleeves have been a big hit with pupils, with some coming to borrow a book from the library just so they can get a unique book sleeve. The change is not only benefitting the environment, but is helping to raise the profile of reading across the whole school.
Swiss Gardens Primary School, West Sussex
The underused and outdated school library at Swiss Gardens Primary School was a concern for Headteacher, Lawrence Coughlin. After approaching the PTA for help to fund a new library, word spread throughout the school community about the project. Parents and staff with skills in interior design, carpentry, librarianship and project management all came forward to help make the vision a reality.
Whilst the physical library was taking shape, work behind the scenes ensured it would become an integral and impactful part of the school. A librarian was employed to be an expert guide in reading for pupils and worked closely together with the English Subject leader to develop the library to complement the curriculum. The new library was stocked with an up-to-date collection of books in partnership with a local bookshop.
Thanks to the work of the whole school community, the library is now a vibrant, dynamic space loved by pupils and families, and is bringing reading to the centre of school life.
Upton Priory School, Cheshire
When Claire Sleath joined Upton Priory School as Deputy Headteacher in 2022, there was no school library, and classroom bookshelves were tired and unloved. She set herself the challenge of opening a new school library within one academic year, which was delivered not only on time, but within a modest budget.
A team of staff, pupils, parents and members of the community, successfully raised an equivalent of over twenty thousand pounds worth of resources through competitions, grants and fundraising to bring the school library to life.
The finished library is a warm and welcoming space for pupils to browse, read and discuss, overseen by a bespoke mural featuring favourite book characters. Every care has been taken to curate a new stock of books containing characters and authors from diverse backgrounds that reflect the school community. With a new school culture for a love of reading, further promoted through twelve pupil reading champions, reading attainment is expected to improve across the board.
Reflecting on the shortlist, Stephen Park, Commercial Director at Reading Cloud said, “We are delighted to support these awards which celebrate the innovative and imaginative ways school libraries can be developed. It is wonderful to see a shortlist showcasing such creative, inclusive, and welcoming library projects and wish all these enterprising schools the best of luck for the finals.”
The winners will be announced at the SLA's annual awards ceremony in July, where the winners of both the Primary School Library and Secondary School Librarian of the Year will also be announced.
CEO of the School Library Association, Alison Tarrant said, "Huge congratulations to all those on the shortlist for the SLA Enterprise of the Year Award. These projects clearly show what I get to see every day: the ambition and impact that school libraries can have when supported by pupils and senior leaders. Each one will be having an immeasurable impact on their pupils.
Opportunities are available to support the SLA awards and attend the ceremony. For more information, please visit www.sla.org.uk/awards