At a time when national reports suggest that reading for pleasure is in decline, Oxford High School GDST tells a very different story.
Nationally, reading for enjoyment is reported to be in decline, the National Reading Trust reposts that just 1 in 3 (32.7%) children and young people aged 8 to 18 said they enjoy reading in their free time in 2025. At Oxford High School, the opposite is true. Library loans have increased by 61% over the past three years, a statistic that speaks volumes about our pupils’ enthusiasm for books and ideas.
Reading for Wellbeing and Academic Success
The benefits are well documented, for example, reading for just six minutes a day can reduce stress by up to 68%. It supports better sleep, strengthens vocabulary, comprehension and is closely linked to higher academic achievement and long term success in children. Just as importantly, reading builds empathy, by allowing young people to step into someone else’s world, explore different cultures and see life from new perspectives.
Years 7-10 have reading for pleasure based sessions in the library as part of the English curriculum. This could be anything from speed dating with a book to fantasy map making, in sessions specially crafted by the librarian.
A Library Shaped by Student Voice
Student voice is central to our book selection. Book requests are actively encouraged by our librarian, Ms McMorrow, and our shelves reflect our pupil’s current interests, from classic literature to a growing young adult romantasy collection. Our digital library continues to expand, with over 300 eBooks available via our VLE app. Accessibility tools area also available via the app and support neurodiverse learners, ensuring reading is inclusive and flexible.
We also have a Year 11+ collection, giving our older pupils access to books that feel relevant, thought provoking and appropriately challenging. It means they’re not limited to younger fiction, but can explore more mature themes and complex ideas in a way that supports their growing independence as readers and as young adults.
Author Visits
Regular author visits enrich our pupils’ experience and connect them with the wider literary world. We have welcomed writers including Jane Robinson, Robyn Stevens, Elle McNicoll, Kiran Millwood Hargrave and Geri Halliwell-Horner. These events inspire ambition, demystify creative careers and demonstrate that stories matter.
Beyond the Curriculum
Our library is host to a number of enriching clubs and activities throughout the week.
Our Creative Writing Club, open to all year groups, provides a supportive environment where pupils experiment with ideas, respond to story prompts, use tools such as story dice and share their work without the pressure of being graded. They learn to give thoughtful feedback, refine their writing and develop their own voice.
In the national Saga Creative Writing Competition for 11-18 year olds, pupils were challenged to craft a 100 word story with a strange or supernatural theme, a demanding task that requires precision and imagination. We are incredibly proud that every Oxford High pupil who entered has been accepted for publication due to the high standard of their work, with final winners to be announced later this year.
Alongside Creative Writing Club, pupils can join:
Detective Club, developing teamwork and analytical thinking through solving fictional mysteries.
Kids’ Lit Quiz, preparing for an international children’s literature competition.
A student-led Classic Book Club for Year 9+, demonstrating the confidence our pupils have to lead intellectual discussion.
These opportunities build resilience, creativity, collaboration and critical thinking, qualities universities and employers actively seek.
Our Reading Community
Our Reading Café evenings bring together students, staff and parents to discuss a shared literary theme over tea and biscuits. A recent Victorian Literature evening sparked thoughtful conversation across generations. Events like this highlight how reading connects our whole school community.
“I arrived not really having read much around the central theme of Victorian literature but came away with wonderful ideas and suggestions from other attendees.” Parent
“It made me think about the differences in how people wrote fictional stories then compared with modern times. I hope there will be another Reading Café next term.” Ella
The Oxford High School Archive
Our Library is home to the Oxford High School Archive, a unique collection of photographs, publications, memorabilia and treasures that tell the story of the school across generations. Highlights include work and photographs of alumnae such as Miriam Margoyles, whole school photos featuring Maggie Smith, and a range of other artefacts that showcase the achievements and stories of our school community over the last 150 years.
Sections of our archive is open to explore online, ensuring that these special items are both preserved and accessible to the wider community.
