Do the books we read at Abingdon represent everyone in our school community? Our Cultural Ambassadors set out to find out
Today, our wonderful Cultural Ambassadors gave up their lunchtime to take on a very important challenge. They explored the books in our Year 5 and Year 6 classrooms, looking carefully at the characters, stories, authors and illustrators to see whether our reading collection represents everyone at Abingdon.
We are incredibly proud of our Abingdon Reading Spine. Every book has been carefully chosen to provide children with a rich and exciting reading experience, while also reflecting the protected characteristics and the diverse nature of our school community.
We believe that books should act as both a mirror and a window.
- Mirrors allow children to see themselves, their experiences, families and backgrounds reflected in the stories they read.
- Windows allow children to look into the lives and experiences of others, helping them understand different people, cultures, beliefs and ways of life.
This is an important part of our curriculum vision. We want every child to feel that they belong at Abingdon and can see themselves represented in their learning.
Representation is not just about the characters in our books. We also carefully consider the authors who write the stories and the illustrators who bring them to life. It is important that children experience a wide range of voices, perspectives and creative talents.
Our Cultural Ambassadors discovered lots of wonderful texts during their review and were pleased to see the range of representation already available across our classrooms. Their challenge was a great way to put our Reading Spine to the test and make sure we continue to offer books that reflect and celebrate everyone.
This important work also brings our ARCH values to life:
- Ambition: Making sure every child can see a world of possibilities through reading.
- Respect: Valuing different identities, experiences, cultures and viewpoints.
- Collaboration: Working together to make our school an even more inclusive place.
- Honesty: Looking carefully at our provision and being open about how we can continue to improve.
Our work also supports British Values, particularly mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs, helping children develop understanding, empathy and respect for others.
A huge thank you to our Cultural Ambassadors for giving up their lunchtime, sharing their ideas and helping us celebrate what makes our reading collection so special. We are very proud of the thought and care they put into this important task!
Want to discover the books our children love? You can find the full list of our Abingdon Reading Spine in the Reading section of our school website.
At Abingdon, we want every child to find a book that feels like home, as well as a story that opens up a whole new world.
Every child. Every voice. Every story matters.
