Coventry: Poet John Bernard unveils library at his old school

John Bernard with students in new library

Coventry's Poet Laureate John Bernard paid a visit to his former school to unveil its brand-new library after a five-figure investment and inspire pupils to follow their passion for reading and writing.

Cardinal Wiseman Catholic School, part of the Romero Catholic Academy, welcomed Coventry's Poet Laureate John Bernard for the official opening of its new library, which has undergone a major £70,000 transformation complete with new books and furniture.

The library, which houses more than 4,000 books with more still arriving, marks a major investment from the Romero Catholic Academy to inspire young readers and broaden pupils' horizons.

The new space will be used by all year groups for lessons, extra-curricular activities, focused reading tuition, and lunchtime clubs, ensuring pupils have regular opportunities to engage with books and develop their literacy skills in an inviting and well-resourced environment.

John said: "It was a real privilege to come back to Cardinal Wiseman, a place that played such an important role in my own journey. Seeing the enthusiasm of the pupils, not just for reading but also for poetry and storytelling, was incredibly inspiring.

"The new library is a fantastic space that will encourage a love of literature and creativity for years to come."

John, an acclaimed poet and spoken word artist, also spent time speaking with pupils about the power of words, storytelling, and the importance of reading in unlocking opportunities for the future.

Will Allen at the Romero Catholic Academy said: "It was a real privilege to welcome John back to Cardinal Wiseman to officially open our new library and speak to pupils about his journey, and how words, literature and learning can lead to so many brilliant opportunities.

"This is a really important investment for the school in terms of broadening the horizons of children in the community. We want to ensure that engaging with reading is something pupils carry with them for life, not just as part of their education but as a source of enjoyment, curiosity, and lifelong learning for many years after they leave us."

Molly Smith, the school's librarian, said: "The new space has already proved incredibly popular with pupils of all ages. We hope that by supporting children with reading, it will have considerable benefits in other aspects of their lives, from boosting confidence to improving their overall academic performance, and we are thrilled John was able to join us to mark the occasion."