Pembury Primary School

Pembury Primary School had everything a school could wish for. With buildings dating back to the 1800s, extensive grounds, a forest school, playing fields and an idyllic village location, the only thing missing was a library they could be proud of. When ABC went to see the school, the library was situated in a small uninspiring room that didn't fit the ambitions of this school and its budding readers. We persuaded them that for a truly inspirational library that would encourage a love of reading for pleasure amongst their pupils they should consider siting the library elsewhere. The space the school offered was one we could only dream of!

With a beamed ceiling and huge windows, this was to be the largest library build in ABC history. The school chose a rainforest theme, and we knew that to make something really special we would need to call on our partners to help make the school's dream a reality.

Over the summer holidays we set about transforming this once dated and unloved classroom into a whole school library complete with an enormous reading tree in the middle.

Using funding raised by the school's PTA and some help from our project partners, the brand new library launched in the first week of the new school year to delighted pupils and guests. Local author Alex Brooks cut the ribbon and everyone got an opportunity to come and spend time in the new space.

Over 1,200 pre-loved books donated by members of the public now sit on the bookcases ready to be read again, alongside a brand new selection of the latest inclusive books specially curated by our partners at Love Reading 4 Kids for the school.

We loved working on this project with the team at Pembury and hope they love using their new library.