Enthusiastic young readers from Glendinning Academy will soon have hundreds more books to choose from in the academy’s library - thanks to a £6,000 grant from the Foyle Foundation.

The pupils and members of staff from Glendinning Academy, Wave’s Special Free School for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) in Devon, moved into their brand new building in Newton Abbot in January.

Since then, the library has fast become one of the most loved and well used spaces in the academy and English Lead Amy Kirkwood is thrilled to have been awarded the grant to buy more books. 

“What a generous  grant to receive - as a new academy and with a brand new library we will be able to fill our shelves with an array of up to date books for our children to enjoy.” 

“Reading is a bridge which opens up so many opportunities and with a rich selection of books we will hope to be able to entice all of our children to develop an enjoyment and lifelong love of reading.  Thank you!”

Amy is keen to involve pupils in choosing the new books and has sent a questionnaire to parents and carers asking them to choose three books with their child for the school to order.

The academy has also placed a plaque in the library in recognition of the support from the Foyle Foundation. 

Notes to editors  

Photo shows English Lead Amy Kirkwood and (left to right) pupils Callum & Ben.

Recognised as the most successful trust in the country for providing education for pupils who have been excluded from school, Wave runs six academies based in Cornwall, three academies based in Devon and the Community and Hospital Education Service (CHES) & Torlands based across three centres in Devon and Cornwall.   Glendinning Academy, based on the former Milber Infant school site in Newton Abbot, is the first special school within the academy Trust family. 

The Foyle School Library Scheme is run by the Foyle Foundation and is open to state schools in the United Kingdom.  The Foundation provides grants of between £1,000 and £10,000 to provide library books to help encourage children to read and improve literacy levels.

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