Tower Hamlets Schools Library Services

Author: slsadmin

  • London Calling : Creative Writing Competition 2012

    London Calling : Creative Writing Competition 2012

    Following an incredible amount of interest from teachers and librarians, London Calling was the first of our creative wirting competitions to be opened up to primary schools.

    The theme was inspired by the 2012 London Olympic Games but also by the lyrics of London Calling the song.

    The competition was judged by award-winning author, Geraldine McCaughrean.

    LondonCallingBanner

    London Calling prize-giving press release

    The winners of London Calling, the 2012 Tower Hamlets Creative Writing Competition, looked out onto spectacular views of their city from the Clifford Chance building in Canary Wharf as they received their awards.   Presenting their prizes along with words of advice and encouragement was Carnegie award-winning author Geraldine McCaughrean who emphasised the importance of reading for pleasure and libraries as vital factors in creating the best writers.

    Tower Hamlets Schools Library Service this year expanded the annual competition to primary schools through their school librarians’ network, and young writers and poets from Bangabandhu, Blue Gate Fields Junior, Cayley, Globe, Hague, Lansbury Lawrence and St Paul with St Luke C of E Primary Schools were all in attendance.

    This year, first prizes in poetry and short story categories went to Hannah Ramanathan and from St Paul with St Luke C of E Primary School, Sadia Qureshi and Farhana Iqbal from Bishop Challoner Catholic Collegiate School, Summer Lewis from Morpeth School, and Kundai Sibanda from Sir John Cass’s Foundation and Redcoat Secondary School.

    Pupils from Bow School of Maths and Computing, Central Foundation Girls’ Secondary School, and Stepney Green Maths and Computing College also won prizes for their work.

    “The standard of writing was exceptional, and all of the schools gained a great deal from participating. It’s a pleasure to see such creativity emanating from schools.   We are proud be to able to continue the work of Tower Hamlets secondary consultants and keep this competition going” said Gillian Harris, Head of Tower Hamlets Schools Library Service.

    Winning entries will be published as the electronic book London Calling on the Amazon Kindle store, and at www.towerhamlets-sls.org.uk from Monday 25th June.

    Key Stage Two Short Story Winners
    1st Hannah Ramanathan If I had a Wish St Paul with St Luke
    2nd Mehnoor Jahan London Calling Cayley Primary School
    3rd Asiya Siddika Change! Globe Primary School
    Commended Iqra Ayesha Rahman London Calling Cayley Primary School
    Commended Tanzila Shamsuzzaman A School Trip St Paul with St Luke
    Commended Louisa-Star Russell-Brown London Calling Our Lady’s
    Commended Nuha Ahmed Thief at Buckingham Palace Hague Primary
    Key Stage Two Poetry Winners

     

    1st Lucy Anh Vo A Vision to Sea St Paul with St Luke
    2nd Rahama Saleh The Olympics St Paul with St Luke
    3rd Demi Ruffell London Calling Our Lady’s
    Commended Yusuf Ahmed Racist or Sexist Lansbury Lawrence
    Commended Freya Samuel-Smith London is a Busy Town Bangabandhu Primary
    Commended Ruben Estephane London Calling Our Lady’s
    Commended Rukba Ahmed London Olympics Blue Gate Fields
    Key Stage Three Short Story Winners

     

    1st Sadia Qureshi Tripping on Words Bishop Challoner
    2nd Valentina Granata The London People Choose to Ignore Bishop Challoner
    3rd Nadiyah Shah Barefaced London Central Foundation Girls’
    Commended Jibril Ahmed Dodge City Bow School
    Commended Nazim Rahman Monologue of a Pigeon Stepney Green
    Commended Nishat Humaira London Riot Central Foundation Girls’
    Key Stage Three Poetry Winners

     

    1st Summer Lewis London’s Calling Morpeth School
    2nd Abigail Asabea-Appiah London’s Calling Bishop Challoner Girls’
    3rd Ridhwan Haque Jewels of London Stepney Green Secondary
    Commended Bella Jordan Armstrong London’s Maze Morpeth
    Commended Reshma Akthar The Athlete Central Foundation Girls’
    Commended Tahmid Hussain (sp?) Primrose Hill Stepney Green
    Commended Aiste Tiskeviciute London’ s Calling Bishop Challoner Girls’
    Key Stage Four Short Story Winners

     

    1st Farhana Iqbal Jack is Coming Bishop Challoner Girl’s
    2nd Nermeen Hilton Ratatouille Bishop Challoner Girl’s
    3rd Ngozi Oboze Principes Mortis Bishop Challoner Girl’s
    Commended Marzia Khan Ripper Sir John Cass
    Key Stage Four Poetry Winners

     

    1st Kundai Sibanda London Calling Sir John Cass
    2nd Ronnie-Anne Barthram Stereotypical London Bishop Challoner Girls’
    3rd Bunmi Musa-Moses The London Game Bishop Challoner Girls’
    Commended Kimberley Nguyen The Future of London Bishop Challoner Girls’
    Commended Joseph Thomas-Samuels Gold Bishop Challoner Boys’
    Commended Ijenne Enwerem My Interpretation Bishop Challoner Girls’
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  • Teen Booklist 2012

    Teen Booklist 2012

    teen12 banner 1Published summer 2012, the Teen Booklist is a celebration of new fiction, representing a diverse range of writers and subject matter. The list was published as a set of posters and a booklet for subscribing schools in Tower Hamlets.

    Download the booklet (.pdf) : THe List 2012

    List of titles
    Almond, David My Name Is Mina
    Barraclough, Lindsey Long Lankin
    Bedford, Martyn Flip
    Benjamin, Floella Sea Of Tears
    Blackman, Malorie Boys Don’t Cry
    Burgess, Melvin Kill All Enemies
    Carter, Ally Heist Society
    Clarke, Cat Torn
    Collins, B R Tyme’s End
    Curtis, Vanessa The Taming Of Lilah May
    Earle, Phil Being Billy
    Eastham, Ruth The Memory Cage
    Forman, Gayle Where She Went
    Gibbons, Alan An Act Of Love
    Griffin, Paul The Orange Houses
    Grindley, Sally My Name Is Rose
    Hoffman, Mary David
    Hooper, Mary Velvet
    Horniman, Joanne About A Girl
    James, Kathryn Mist
    Johnson, Catherine Brave New Girl
    LaFleur, Suzanne M. Eight Keys
    Lewis, Ali Everybody Jam
    Mackintosh, Samantha Lula Does The Hula
    Matson, Morgan Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour
    McCafferty, Megan Bumped
    Millard, Glenda A Small Free Kiss In The Dark
    Mulligan, Andy Trash
    Ness, Patrick A Monster Calls: From An Original Idea By Siobhan Dowd
    Northrop, Michael Trapped
    Pitcher, Annabel My Sister Lives On The Mantelpiece
    Rai, Bali Killing Honour
    Rawsthorne, Paula The Truth About Celia Frost
    Revis, Beth Across The Universe
    Riordan, James Blood Runner: The Long Race To Freedom
    Robert, Na’ima B Far From Home
    Ryan, Amy Kathleen Glow
    Sepetys, Ruta Between Shades Of Gray
    Sharif, Medeia Bestest. Ramadan. Ever.
    Simons, D.M. Keep Her Safe

    Other Teen booklists

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  • Library, information and research skills schemes of work

    Library, information and research skills schemes of work

    The importance of information literacy and research skills in education is gaining recognition across schools, colleges and universities, and self-directed learning is becoming an essential skill for students and job-seekers.

    The Schools Library Service is working with primary, secondary, FE and HE institutions to provide library and computer-based information skills sessions that support the wider curriculum.

    Primary School Information Skills Scheme of Work

    The Primary School Information Skills Framework is a document being continualy revised by our librarians. It builds on core library skills to:

    • Improve pupil research skills
    • Enable pupils to evaluate information they find on the internet and in books
    • Improve pupils’ overall reading skills
    • Enable pupils to better select their own reading books
    • Encourage the use of the school library within the teaching of the wider curriculum
    • Provide skills for pupils to take forward to secondary education

    Includes modules on evaluating online information, websites and shared content.

    Download the scheme -2018 revision – (viewable online below)

    We’re currently able to make this document free to access. If you’re downloading or using our scheme of work, please fill in the below form to let us know how you’re using it. Feedback welcome.

      Tower Hamlets Library Skills Scheme of Work 2018
      Secondary school and Post 16

      The use of internet resources (subscription based, free, or public domain) has become an integral part of students’ work.

      We can provide in-school workshops for both students and teachers.
      Aims include:

      • Enable students to evaluate and become discerning consumers of the vast range of information available via the internet
      • Enable students and teachers to identify deliberate misinformation online
      • Improve student and teacher awareness of the range of information sources available
      • Enable students to get the most from the subscription services bought by their school or college
      • Enable students to use these skills across the wider curriculum and to improve coursework research
      • Refresh students’ awareness of library collections (public and educational)
      • Raise awareness of issues of plagiarism and to introduce eCopyright issues

      In addition, we have worked with schools to deliver workshops and lectures supporting current anti-radicalisation agendas.

      Call us on 020 7364 6428 or use our contact form to get in touch about this service

       

    • Tower Hamlets Book Award 2012

      Tower Hamlets Book Award 2012

      THBA2012BannerChildren in Tower Hamlets voted “The Brilliant World of Tom Gates” by Liz Pichon as the best new book for 10-13 year olds at the Tower Hamlets Book Award Finale held in Swanlea School Library on Friday 30th November.

      A record eighteen schools, both primary and secondary, attended the finale and saw eight schools perform a presentation about their favourite book – with Globe Primary School (narrowly) taking the prize for their interpretation of “Too Small to Fail” by Morris Gleitzman. This competition was judged by Josh Lacey, Catherine Johnson, both of whom had books on the THBA shortlist, Candy Gourlay, whose book “Tall Story” was shortlisted last year, and Pam Girdwood, until recently school librarian at the Blue Gate Fields schools.

      The poetry competition, where children were invited to write a poem about their favourite book, was won by Tahseen Al-Zahra of Cyril Jackson Primary School for her poem The Tree Monster based on “A Monster calls” by Patrick Ness

      Shortlist:

      1. The Brilliant World of Tom Gates by Liz Pichon
      2. Monacello : The Little Monk by Geraldine McCaughrean
      3. Brave New Girl by Catherine Johnson
      4. The Island of Thieves by Josh Lacey
      5. The Search for Wondla by Tony Diterlitzzi
      6. A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness
      7. Too Small to Fail by Morris Gleitzman
      8. Eight Keys by Suzanne LaFleur
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    • The Must Read Booklist 2012

      The Must Read Booklist 2012

      MustRead2012BannerThe Must Read Booklist 2012 comprises of the best new fiction published in paperback from 2011 – 2012, suggested for ages 9 and upwards. This was the first primary booklist and was intended as a bridge between the new picturebooks of the annual Greenaway award and the teen fiction booklists.

      View the full booklist (.pdf) : Primary List 2012 Booklet

      Along with the 2012 Teen booklist, the shortlist for the 2012 Book Award was chosen from these titles. The posters were designed with the Olympic rings in mind (and avoided copyright infringement as the circles were not linked).

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    • The Global Dimension

      The Global Dimension

      Golbalbanner1Resources to support teaching of the global dimension

      Global Learning London and The Schools Library Service have worked together to select resources to support teaching the Global Dimension.

      The links below relate to the 8 strands of the global dimension. Each link searches our catalogue for the relevant keyword and will display resources currently in stock and their availability.

      Global citizenship

      Gaining the knowledge, skills and understanding of concepts and institutions necessary to become informed, active, responsible citizens.

      Diversity
      Understanding and respecting differences and relating these to our common humanity
      Conflict resolution
      Understanding the nature of conflicts, their impact on development and why there is a need for their resolution and the promotion of harmony.
      Social justice
      Understanding the importance of social justice as an element in both sustainable development and the improved welfare of all people.
      Values and perceptions
      Developing a critical evaluation of representations of global issues and an appreciation of the effect these have on people’s attitudes and values.
      Sustainable development
      Understanding the need to maintain and improve the quality of life now without damaging the planet for future generations.
      Interdependence
      Understanding how people, places, economies and environments are all inextricably interrelated, and that choices and events have repercussions on a global scale.
      Human Rights

      Knowing about human rights including the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

      See also:

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    • Crossing The Line : Creative Writing Competition 2011

      Crossing The Line : Creative Writing Competition 2011

      CTLBannerCrossing the line was the first of the Creative Writing Competitions to be run by the Schools Library Services. The winners were chosen by author Pete Johnson.

      Download Crossing the Line (.epub)

      Read Crossing the Line (.pdf)

      Key Stage Three Short Story Winners
      1st HAZERA KHATUN Sir John Cass School Strikingly original, absolutely unforgettable piece which takes us inside the head of a person who ‘crosses all limits’ – the bully. Deeply felt story which says so much.
      2nd NASRIN AHMED Central Foundation Girls School This gripping tale is written with great power and insight. Beautifully controlled yet full of emotion.
      3rd RUBEKA ZAFAR Morpeth School A story about war yet written with such quiet power and fascinating detail. It builds to a most eloquent ending.
      Commended SAHRA BOTAM Langdon Park A dramatic and gripping piece. A writer of great talent.
      Commended SALMAN RAHMAN Stepney Green College An intense, highly original piece, written with great power and skill.
      Highly commended MINHAJ CHOWDHURY Bow School for Boys A compelling narrative which also features a most likeable character.
      Highly commended BILAL HAMMANI Bethnal Green Technology College The dialogue here is vivid and completely natural. A writer of great promise.
      Key Stage Three Poetry Winners

       

      1st NADIA RAHMAN Morpeth School Ambitious, challenging and highly original. Full of raw power. A superb achievement. Full of ideas and emotion.
      2nd ZAHRA NABIL Bishop Challoner School Deeply felt, the ending is almost unbearable. Absolutely gripping and unforgettable.
      3rd JOSHUA STREETE CAMPBELL Raines Foundation School Eloquent, absorbing, this poem is strikingly individual. At the end you already feel you know the writer. Last lines are devastating.
      Highly  commended SYEDA KHATUN Langdon Park One of the most positive and inspiring of all the poems. This writer has great potential.
      Highly commended MINHAJ RAHMAN Stepney Green School Shows great promise. Full of vivid phrases and images.
      Highly commended SHAKILA  TASNIM Mulberry School Written in a gripping, conversational style. Extremely powerful ending.
       Commended AKASHI ALAM Morpeth  School I really like this. The writing is so natural and unforced. A detailed plot, but the writing style carries the reader along.
      Key Stage Four Short Story Winners

       

      1st ZAHRA DEERA Central Foundation Girls’ School I loved this: sad yet wise and life-affirming too.  Highly unusual and quite unforgettable.
      2nd TASNIM SHORMEE AZIZ (Shormee) Bishop Challoner Collegiate College A superb achievement. It brings alive a character and a situation with wonderful depth and vividness.  I was thoroughly engrossed throughout.
      3rd TAMARA BARRETT Bishop Challoner Collegiate College A fascinating opening, grips the reader at once. This story never relaxes its hold and the ending is incredibly powerful.
      Highly commended RIMA RASHID Sir john Cass School Opening with a series of short sentences, sets the scene with economy and skill. The feelings of the main character are especially described
      Highly commended OLIWIA LEWANDOWSKA Raines Foundation School Written with the power and precision of a poem. This writer shows huge promise.
      Key Stage Four Poetry Winners

       

      1st CHERRY WHIPP Central Foundation Girls’ School This is brilliant: stylish, funny, shocking and full of emotion. A highly original voice.
      2nd JACKIE ANYURU Bishop Challoner Girls’ This makes its points in a direct, really affecting way. Last line is so poignant.
      3rd RHIANNON HUTCHINGS Sir John Cass Very effective, compelling look at how the tiniest things can derail a relationship. Last verse shows vividly how devastating break-ups can be
      Highly commended ALFRED GREEN Raines Foundation School Highly individual, striking, exciting poem. This writer has much to say.
      Best in School Winners
      Langdon Park School SAHRA BOTAM Langdon Park School A dramatic and gripping piece. A writer of great talent.
      Morpeth School NADIA RAHMAN Morpeth School A superb piece of writing – ambitious and powerful.
      Mulberry School SHAKILA TASNIM Mulberry School Extremely powerful yet written with disarming naturalness.
      Raines Foundation School JOSHUA STREETE CAMPBELL Raines Foundation School Eloquent, absorbing and devastating poem.
      Sir John Cass HAZERA KHATUN Sir John Cass An unforgettable piece – deeply felt and highly original.
      Stepney Green School MINHAJ RAHMAN Stepney Green School Vivid and powerful. A writer of huge promise.
      Prize-giving press release

      With equally high ambitions, the winners of Crossing the Line, the 2011 Creative Writing Competition, were treated to spectacular views of the city from the 30th floor of the Clifford Chance offices in Canary Wharf.   Presenting their prizes along with words of advice and encouragement was celebrated author Pete Johnson who told the winners and their guests that the writing of Tower Hamlets students was the best in the country.

      Tower Hamlets Schools Library Service now organise this competition which has become an annual celebration of the best young writers in the Borough. This year first prizes in poetry and short story categories went to Zahra Deera and Cherry Whipp from Central Foundation Girls Secondary School, Nadia Rahman from Morpeth School, and Hazera Khatun from Sir John Cass’s Foundation and Redcoat Secondary School.  Pupils from Bethnal Green Technology College, Bow School of Maths and Computing, Bishop Challoner Catholic Collegiate Girls School, Langdon Park School, Mulberry Girls School, Raine’s Foundation School and Stepney Green Maths and Computing College also won prizes for their work.

      “The event was inspiring and the standard of writing was truly amazing,” said Gillian Harris, Head of Tower Hamlets Schools Library Service

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    • Tower Hamlets Book Award 2011

      Tower Hamlets Book Award 2011

      THBA2011posterThe Schools Library Service is delighted to announce that Street Heroes, by Joe Layburn won the 2011 Tower Hamlets Book Award. A thought-provoking book of great relevance to children in Tower Hamlets, it looks again at the story behind the battle of Cable Street in 1936.

      At the Finale on 25th November, 120 children gathered to cast their final votes. Globe Primary won the book presentation competition with their inspired re-interpretation of “Letters from an Alien Schoolboy” by Ros Asquith.

      Pupils were also invited to take part in an art competition to design a postcard to publicize the 2012 Book Award. Standards were very high and pupils from Lansbury Lawrence Primary, Old Palace Primary, Globe Primary and Hague Primary shared first prize.

      THBA2011Banner Shortlist:

      1. Calamity Jack by Shannon Hale
      2. Tall Story by Candy Gourlay
      3. The Vampire Blog by Pete Johnson
      4. When you reach me by Rebecca Stead
      5. Letters from an Alien Schoolboy by Ros Asquith
      6. Street Heroes by Joe Layburn

      View: Longlist 2011 (.pdf)

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    • IT Support for your School Library

      IT Support for your School Library

      In most cases we recommend that schools use a library management system to:

      • Accurately keep track of school book borrowing
      • Monitor reading patterns and reading attainment
      • Collect important reading data for your school records
      • Enable pupils and staff to know exactly what resources are in the school and where to find them

      We are not affiliated with any software provider and will happily advise on the most suitable platform(s) that will meed your needs.

      We offer annual library software health checks to ensure your computer management system is up-to-date and basic housekeeping processes are done regularly. However, the software requires managing!  We offer the following support for all commonly used library catalogue systems

      • Staff and pupil training (beginner to advanced)
      • Managing and importing pupil borrower data
      • Cataloguing books and other new resources
      • Stock checking
      • Using reports to gather reading and borrowing statistics

      User Group Meetings

      We hold weekly Junior Librarian, Junior.Net, Reading Cloud, Eclipse, Pergamon Mu and Heritage User Group meetings to keep schools up-to-date with latest developments and answer questions you may have on how to get the best out of the system. These meetings are FREE to all subscribers.

      eBooks and eResources

      We provide eResources platform subscriptions to schools and also have our own eBooks platform for subscribing schools at no additional cost. See our eResources page for more information on services including accessing the platform and advice on using eBooks safely and legally within schools.

      Call us on 020 7364 6428 or use our contact form to get in touch about these services

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