TGS 50 encourages pupils to read bucket list of books

A bucket list of books designed to encourage pupils to read 50 top titles before they leave school has been launched.

Staff and students at Thomas Gainsborough School in Great Cornard joined forces to compile the ‘TGS 50’ of classic literacy works.

The mix of classical and modern fiction includes Great Expectations, The Hobbit, The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas and Twilight with pupils of all year groups taking part in the ambitious literacy project.

Headteacher Wayne Lloyd said: “We wanted to get everyone involved so staff and students worked in conjunction with the local library to compile the list of books that we felt pupils should read before they leave school.

“Some students may only read half of the TGS 50, but some will read them all. We just want to continually encourage a love of reading among our young pupils.

“It was difficult compiling a ‘top 50’ but these are all great books that will help with vocabulary, knowledge and literacy.

“In this digital age, we must do all we can to continually encourage young people to read and write and the reaction of the students to the TGS 50 has been brilliant.”

To encourage participation, the school have adopted an incentive scheme where pupils will earn points for every book they read.

Mr Lloyd explained: “We also wanted to incentivise young people by also adding a reward system for every book that is read.

“Prizes will be awarded for each book and that will go towards our in-school house competition. We are also running quizzes and other activities around the books – it has become a big focus in the school.”

The village library, which is sited on the school grounds, has ensured they are well stocked with the 50 books with Mr Lloyd revealing they have been “flying out”.

How many books have you read on the list?

The full list of the TGS 50 books:

1984

Animal Farm

Cider with Rosie

Dracula

Farenheit 451

Flowers in the Attic

Gone with the Wind

Great Expectations

King Rat

Little Women

On the Road

One Flew over the Cuckoos Nest

Parades End

Pride and Prejudice

Tess of the d'Urbervilles

The Diary of Anne Frank

The Grapes of Wrath

The Help

The Hobbit

The Life of Pi

The Lord of the Rings trilogy

The Secret Garden

To Kill a Mockingbird

Wild Swans

Wuthering Heights

Before I Die

The Graveyard Book

Mates Dates Series

Goodnight Mr Tom

Harry Potter Series

Heidi

Huckleberry Finn

Kensukes Kingdom

Lionboy

Lord of the Flies

Skellig

The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

The H I V E Series

The Hunger Games trilogy

The Journey to the River Sea

The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe

The London Eye Mystery

The Silver Sword

The Story of Tracy Beaker

The Half Bad Trilogy

Treasure Island

Twilight

War Horse

The Book Thief