The Personal Learning Centre & Library (PLC) is managed by Mrs Ellsmore with the invaluable help of a team of trained, dedicated and enthusiastic pupil librarians. We aim to provide a safe, friendly and welcoming environment in which pupils are given the space and materials to read, study, research and learn.
When pupils enrol at Dormston they automatically become members of the PLC which offers them the following facilities:
The PLC is popular and well used throughout the school day. Teachers book the facility for lessons and the PLC can be used as one room or can be sectioned off to separate the computer area and library area as necessary. It is designed to meet the needs of each individual child with lift accessibility if required.
This is a lovely facility where pupils can work in a quiet and calm environment and is open for them to work independently during social times and before and after school.
Students may use the PC’s for research and homework whilst the library section offers a separate room to sit and read or do homework. Both of these areas provide students with a peaceful environment.
We are a school that loves to read. We passionately strive to promote, engage and enthuse students to enjoy books and to nurture in them, a lifelong love for reading.
Running throughout the year we provide activities, opportunities, events and celebrations to enjoy, including: author visits, literature trips, Dudley Children’s Books Awards, inter-school book quizzes, competitions, National Reading Day and World Book Day celebrations, extra curricular books clubs, (see the book clubs tab for more details), Student Book Club, Parent and Pupil Book Club and a Staff Book Club too.
Lost / Damaged Books
In the event that books borrowed from the PLC are lost or returned damaged, we ask parents/carers to consider making a voluntary monetary contribution towards the cost of a replacement.
Please can we ask students to be reminded to look after their books and return them to the PLC in the condition they borrowed them in .
It might be advisable for students to keep their books in a small plastic bag to protect them, particularly if there is the risk of their water bottle leaking.
Thank you for your support.
We aim to provide a safe, friendly and welcoming environment in which pupils are given the space and materials to read, study, research and learn...
STUDENT BOOK CLUBS 3.10pm – 4.00pm
Mon: Year 9
Tue: Year 8
Wed: Year 7
Fri: KS3
New members are always welcome and students may join at any time throughout the school year. Please visit the PLC to join.
PARENT AND PUPIL BOOK CLUB:
Next meeting: Wednesday 25 February 2026 6.00pm in the PLC to discuss Evenfall by Alexander Armstrong.
STAFF BOOK CLUB
Staff meet approximately every six weeks at 4.10pm in the PLC. Staff can join at any time throughout the year and can also take part without coming along to the meetings.
Some of our favourite authors so far are: Angela Marsons, Stacey Halls, Tracy Chevalier, Mike Gayle, Claire Pooley. We read anything from the classics to our current read Bob Mortimer’s autobiography And Away.
The Dudley Children’s Book Award is designed to encourage young people to read regularly and more widely and to try books they might not usually choose.
Dudley Borough secondary school librarians work with their pupils by reading and nominating books (which must have been published in the current year and are not a sequel or part of a series) to produce a longlist of books. The librarians from the schools that take part then discuss the choices and decide on a short list of 7 books. The aim is for pupils to read all, or as many of them as they can.
The nominated authors, staff and students who have taken part are invited to attend a celebration event.
Creating lots of excitement for the love of reading and generating fantastic book discussions, this is our very own local book shadowing opportunity that goes from strength to strength each year and we welcome and encourage all our pupils to take part.
Please remember that books you find on these sites can be borrowed from our Personal Learning Centre & Library
www.lovereading4kids.co.uk
Particularly helpful information on the ‘browse by age’ tab
www.fantasticfiction.com
Brilliant for finding the order of books in a series
https://www.scottishbooktrust.com/book-lists
https://www.booktrust.org.uk/books-and-reading/our-recommendations/best-new-books/
https://penguin.co.uk/articles/children/2019/apr/must-read-books-for-9-12-year-olds.html
www.barringtonstoke.co.uk
Excellent site for books for dyslexic and reluctant readers
Book celebrations
Literature Festivals – Annual
http://www.wolvesliteraturefestival.co.uk/
https://www.hayfestival.com/home
https://www.birminghamliteraturefestival.org/
https://www.cheltenhamfestivals.com/literature/
https://www.stratfordliteraryfestival.co.uk/
https://lichfieldliteraturefestival.org/
https://bathfestivals.org.uk/childrens-literature/
https://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on/festivals-series/imagine-childrens-festival
Poetry Festivals
http://vervepoetryfestival.com/
Homework Club
Homework club runs Monday – Friday, from 3.10pm – 4.00pm for all year groups.
Support is provided by staff from the Inclusion Hub.
