West Leeds school funds new £180,000 library project

The impressive new library at Beecroft Primary School, Kirkstall, boasts £8,000 of purpose-built furniture and £9,600 worth of new books, partly-funded with £4,000 from a sponsored walk organised by the Friends of Beecroft.

Beecroft Primary School headteacher June Turner said careful management of the school’s budget over a number of years has enabled the school to pay for the new library.

Miss Turner said: “The children are absolutely astonished at how beautiful the new library is and they just can’t put the books down.”

“New libraries are not always prioritised as the most essential aspect of a school because we are in a digital age.

“Getting your hands on a good book is a cliche, but it’s a key to children’s enjoyment of learning and to their success in any area of the academic curriculum.

“We have worked so hard over a lot of years to ensure that the children are both excited by reading and want to read. Also, before they leave primary school at 11 they are at a high level of reading.

“I think children do well in a beautiful environment where everything looks stunning and wonderful. If you haven’t got books, how do you expect them to read well?

Miss Turner said school finances are carefully managed. “I really keep an eye on the budget. The senior staff at our school all teach, so we probably have less staff costs.”

She added:: “We are a very high achieving school with high expectations and work very much with the community to raise standards and ensure children have the very best.”

Yorkshire author Gervaise Phinn will officially open the library at an event at the school from 10am on Friday April 29.