Bristol plane fuselage turned into primary school library

A school has said its book club is “flourishing” after a plane fuselage was turned into a library.

St Helen’s Primary School, in Alveston, near Bristol, saved up to buy the unique space which arrived in January 2023. It also doubles as an outdoor classroom.

Richard Adams, assistant principal, said students get “a real sense of enjoyment” from reading there.

The official opening took place on World Book Day earlier this year.

Mr Adams said the idea came after the school held a competition for children to choose new house names and pupils came up with a “great idea to name them after planes”.

There’s a great history in the area with the aircraft connection and after a school trip, they came up with a “great idea to save an aircraft that had finished its useful life from an aircraft graveyard”, he added.

Because much of the fuselage was built near Filton – where Concorde was designed and built – it was very much in line with the local plane angle, he said.

“Initially it was slightly damaged, so a previous headmaster and the local community put together a project to buy it and renovate it, then move it into the school.

“It was completely redone inside as a library,” he said.

The fuselage was then pulled to the school with a large crane and lifted onto the school grounds.

“It’s been a lot of work, but we’re really grateful to the community for raising money for this,” he added.

“We have over 30 kids in our book club now,” and being able to learn on the plane is “the highlight of their week,” he added.

Catherine, a pupil at the school, said: “I really enjoy reading… (and) the library was really amazing.

“You can be on a plane, in school, with books, which is really cool.”

Charlotte, another student, said: “I really enjoy reading… and it’s really amazing to have a plane with a cockpit and be able to sit on a bean bag and read a book” .

Being able to come on the plane also encouraged many younger children to come and read, she added.