What is inappropriate for a school library?

[Erin1975]

A librarian was investigated for stocking inappropriate books in a school library. The safeguarding concerns were eventually investigated and upheld. But the list of books deemed inappropriate is laughable. It includes Twilight, Game of Thrones, amongst others. The book that apparently kicked the whole thing off was Laura Bates' "Men Who Hate Women".

www.indexoncensorship.org/2026/03/school-book-banning-escalates-in-the-uk-as-greater-manchester-secondary-school-censors-scores-of-books/

This was not in America this was Manchester.

But I have. No clue.

Well the name of the school is now out and they're saying that their interpretation of the events does not align with the story as it's been reported.

But either way I've bought two more copies of the 1984 graphic novel!

Is it a Catholic school?

Our headteacher confiscated the copy of Forever we were reading in the playground about age 12. So we made sure we didn't get caught reading Lace. I wouldn't have expected the school library to contain Lace or Jilly Cooper (but i expect they knew we read them, and as long as we weren'tcaught with them in school, well, good, we were reading. ) But I would have expected the classics and books for YA, especially those that might help those dealing with difficulties like thinking they might be gay or having a terminally ill parent or all sorts of other things.

There are books on the list I wouldn't waste what I assume is a limited school budget on, because I think there are other books which would be better value for the quality of writing.

But they're going to struggle with the English curriculum if they only have children's books.

The local paper has picked up on the story and named the school.
manchestermill.co.uk/revealed-the-famous-school-at-the-centre-of-a-book-banning-scandal/

The Times article is by Georgia Lambert. It names the Lowry Academy in Greater Manchester as saying that 200 books did not align with it's values including Becoming by Michelle Obama and 1984.
The head teacher found 'Men who Hate Women' too disturbing for staff as well as pupils.
Wimp!

That's pathetic

Here are the Lowry's values:

https://www.lowryacademy.org.uk/about-us/ethos-values

Struggling to understand how Michelle Obama doesn't encourage 'dreaming big'.

@EBearhugthey probably do have books that aren’t considered literature or educational, but they will serve a cohort that includes kids who are reluctant readers and often the more popular and less “worthy” books are the ones that keep those kids engaged. It’s a case of engaging them and then by chatting with them, encourage them into “better” titles on an “if you liked this then try ….” basis. To serve the entire range of abilities and interests on a limited budget is a struggle, but it’s important not to only provide for the more able and engaged readers

The Lowry Academy is part of the United Learning Trust, which runs some private schools as well as state schools, and has a Christian ethos (it sounds likely to be more Catholic than protestant.

As for all the comments about the article being from a source which has an agenda? Newspapers and broadcasters, including local papers that have reported the story - including the one that actually outed the specific school in question - have an agenda. Social media has an agenda. I think at least a long established human rights organisation which has researched and thought about its stories is likely to offer more informative and thought out articles.

I'd like to draw attention to the number of books on this list that have been pulled because they are about sexism, racism and other prejudices - generally criticising them not advocating them. Black women writers of at least one banned book on the list include Zadie Smith, Bernardine Evaristo, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Jandy Nelson.

It all started with a book by Laura Bates about misogyny, considered too disturbing for staff as well as pupils. I'm a school governor, now at a secondary school. I have two sons, one in year 12 and the other a first year university student. I find the levels of sexism, racism and hatred being spread on social media terrifying, and think that it's important that staff, governors, parents learn about these issues because they're scary - and that girls and young women, boys and young men, are able to access books and discussions about the issues that face them as they're growing up and learning that challenge the hate and offer some advise to those facing abuse, not just the social media personalities making a fortune promoting hatred and abusive behaviour.

Yes, I know United Learning. Didn't know it was them when I asked!

Yes, I'm sorry, the discussion was moving on since you posted, and as I was posting.

No worries!

@elkiedee It’s not Catholic, it’s C of E. Or was, originally. Wikipedia states that its ethos is ‘Christian, and more particularly Church of England’. The source for that claim is a defunct link to an NEU page.

Aargggh, I wish I could correct the beginning of my post, I typed the opposite of what I meant to say. The United Learning Trust is clearly not Catholic, and what I've read suggested it was Anglican or wider Protestant.

Where I live in north London C of E schools are under an Anglican academies trust (London Diocesan Board) and I believe Catholic schools are also linked to another church schools trust.

I'm not religious but I'm of mixed Christian descent, dad's father was a vicar, mum's parents were lapsed Catholics. I also have/had step parents and other extended family who were brought up "chapel" or Quaker. I don't, though, think all this is linked to either the Church of England or the Catholic church.

As a for school librarian I had a parent furious with me that I had Diary of Anne Frank in the library - as there was too much sex in it