In response to the government’s pledge for a library in every primary school, one school will win a bespoke library building.
Thousands of primary school pupils across the UK could soon have the chance to access a new reading space, as Portakabin launches a nationwide competition inviting primary schools to design their dream library and help tackle the shortage of library spaces across the nation.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves recently pledged to ensure every primary school in England has a library, addressing the 1,700 schools currently without one.
The Portakabin ‘Inspiring Libraries’ initiative encourages pupils and teachers across the UK to share their creative ideas for how school libraries could look and feel - celebrating imagination while sparking conversations about the role of learning environments in supporting literacy, wellbeing and inclusion.
Entries are open until 5 December, with the winning school announced on 12 December. The winning design will be brought to life by Portakabin, who will provide a fully equipped modular library to the school free of charge for 12 months, demonstrating how modular innovation can bring reading to life, even where space and resources are limited.
“We know that many schools are facing challenges around space and resources,” said Dan Ibbetson, CEO of Portakabin. “Through Inspiring Libraries, we want to show how thoughtful design can make reading more engaging and inclusive for every child. By collaborating with schools on this initiative, we hope to spark conversations about the importance of reading spaces and how they can transform the learning experience for every child.”
Research shows that one in seven primary schools in the UK do not have a library, rising to one in four in disadvantaged areas. Studies have consistently linked access to engaging library spaces with positive impacts on children’s development, wellbeing and literacy skills.
With the initiative, Portakabin aims to support educators in exploring new ideas for creating inspiring learning environments that nurture a love of reading, while providing one primary school with a new space of their own.
Schools can enter the competition by downloading the template and submitting their design here.