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Rougemont School is a co-educational independent school in Newport, South Wales, with over 700 students across Nursery, Prep, and Senior phases. Ranked in the Top 5 Schools in the UK by The Sunday Times Parent Power in 2023, Rougemont combines academic excellence with a whole-school commitment to character-building and lifelong learning.
We spoke with Annette Jones, Learning Resources Administration Manager, and Alice Mintowt-Czyz, Head of English (Senior School), to explore how Reading Cloud has supported the school’s reading culture and empowered students to take ownership of their library experience.
Rougemont had been using Reading Cloud for over a decade, but its full potential wasn’t being realised. Staff changes had led to limited use of the platform—mainly for cataloguing and issuing books. The library needed a more dynamic, student-led approach to reading engagement, with better integration across departments and phases.
“I was feeling my way in the dark. It was clear the system could offer so much more.”
— Annette Jones, Learning Resources Administration Manager
Annette worked closely with the Reading Cloud Customer Success Team to unlock the platform’s full functionality. Through webinars, one-to-one sessions, and expert support, she gained administrator access and refined inherited settings to better serve the school’s goals.
Key features now in use include:
Reading lists: tailored by year, subject, or individual
Links: to subscribed resources and curated sites of interest
Google single sign-on: for seamless access
Customisable homepage: showcasing catalogue, resources, and student avatars
MIS integration via Wonde: for automated updates
“The webinars and one-to-one sessions were fantastic. I feel completely confident using the system now.”
Student Engagement
18 pupil librarians (Years 8–9 and KS4 Duke of Edinburgh volunteers): manage displays, stock, and induction
Students: recommend books and help catalogue new titles
Reading Cloud: avatars and homepage features drive exploration—even among non-regular users
“They act as library ambassadors, promote resources, and come up with brilliant ideas. Some are quite addicted!”
Heads of department: collaborate with pupil librarians to curate shelves
Reading lists support: GCSE and A-level courses, reducing “analysis paralysis”
Reading trends: are tracked and celebrated—e.g. “Top Readers” at Speech Day
“Putting the power in pupils’ hands is probably the thing Reading Cloud does best.”
— Alice Mintowt-Czyz, Head of English
All staff enrolled in Reading Cloud: with access to 18,000 titles and 16,000+ LinksPlus resources
Teachers serve as reading advocates: helping students explore the catalogue
“Reading Cloud makes you proud of what you can collectively achieve using the platform. It’s fantastic for issuing and returning books, auditing, and promoting reading.”
— Annette Jones, Learning Resources Administration Manager
Rougemont School has transformed its library into a vibrant, student-led hub for reading and discovery. With Reading Cloud at the centre, the school empowers learners to explore independently, supports curriculum goals, and celebrates reading as a core part of its educational mission.
To ignite a love of reading in your school community, you need more than a basic library system. Reading Cloud unites students, staff, and parents, empowering schools to foster independent learning and build a vibrant reading culture with easy-to-use tools.
