The Harris Academy (formerly the Eltham Foundation School) is in South East London. Until 2012 the school was judged by Ofsted to be subject Special Measures. 31% of the school’s students are eligible for free school meals.
At the end of 2012 Give a Book sent the Harris Academy Greenwich 160 new books – enough for every child in Year 7 to have their own book. Assistant Head Teacher Jack Ream suggested four titles that he thought his students would enjoy: A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness, The Boy in the Dress by David Walliams, My Name is Mina by David Almond and The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. We sent 40 copies of each title.
‘I know absolutely that for many kids this was the only book they got this Christmas, and for some this will be the first book they own.’ – Jack Ream, Assistant Head Teacher
At the start of the Spring term 2013, four teachers at the school recorded a video in which they championed one of the books each. The books were then handed out randomly to students at a special assembly. Here are some of the comments made by the students to the teachers:
‘When I realised I’d got this book (‘The Hunger Games’) I was really happy… it made me realise I could read the whole book.’
‘When Miss said we could keep it, I was just like “Yes”. I didn’t know why we’d been given a book.’
‘When I got ‘The Boy in the Dress’ I was so surprised, and really pleased… I really want to read the other books like ‘The Hunger Games’, but my friends take TOO long to read.’