Munira Wilson opened Hampton Court House (HCH) school's library with a difference this morning (1 February) as part of National Storytelling Week celebrations. 

The independent school has repurposed and refitted an old double decker bus to create valuable extra space for a new library. 

Munira Wilson met and addressed pupils on Thursday morning before officially cutting the ribbon on the new School Bus Library and touring the school.  

She said: "It is so important to nurture that joy and love of reading. 

"I hope this library bus is an exciting place to go and discover new books and new adventures." 

Munira Wilson cutting the ribbon with Principal Vintiner. (Photo: Supplied)

While watching the students discover the new books in the library, read on bean bags and explore the bus, Ms Wilson and Ms Vintiner chatted about the stories they loved growing up.   

Ms Vintiner said: "We have been planning for a new library for some time as we really wanted a dedicated space for the children to experience the joy of having their own library." 

Each classroom is fitted with a mini academic library; however, HCH wanted a space where students were free to go and enjoy the pleasure of reading and enrich learning.  

As HCH is a Grade II listed 18th-century building on the edge of Bushy Park (and a member of UNESCO associated schools), planning permission of anything within 200m from the site is restricted.  

Ms Vintiner explained the student council came back to the school with the idea "in no uncertain terms" of a pink bus for a library. She said: "We loved the idea and we started to research it and then found the perfect bus in the shape of the old double decker." 

After sourcing a previous used double decker bus from the West Midlands, HCH's builders team gutted out the inside and fitted bookcases. With a lick of pink paint and a splash of grey, the bus's interior has been furnished into a cosy reading room.  

Bean bags and cushions abound, creating an inviting learning space for children to visit on their breaks and within school time.  

Fairy lights add a touch of magic as children are encouraged to let their imagination run wild with the new stories they can pick up every time they visit the library.  

Although a mobile library, it is now permanently parked outside the school's Science laboratories and Humanities block, in front of the mini sports field.  

HCH students welcoming MP Munira Wilson. (Photo: Supplied)

Mrs Vintiner, added: "There are now books suitable for all year groups on the bus and we are confident the space will be well-used by the whole school community." 

The principal added: "They are co-pilots not passengers in everything we do which is really key to the ethos of the school." 

HCH is an independent co-educational day school for ages 2 – 18, educating Pre-Prep School & Nursery, The Little Courtiers, to students in Year 13.

The school aims to lay the foundations of a lifelong love of learning, and believes children need "guided freedom" in order to develop their independence and confidence to use their voice

Student ambassador Ellie said: "It has been so incredible to see the project take shape from being involved in the initial discussions about the school's plan to create a new library to coming up with the idea of using an old bus as a student council and to see it transformed and refitted on the school grounds.   

"We are all incredibly excited about using the new space, even more so because we have been involved in the entire project." 

Ms Vintiner thanked the sponsorship from Friends of HCH PTA, the Head of English for helping organise equipping the bus with books and the builders for making the students' idea a reality.  

Sponsorship and funds for the library was sourced from Dukes Education.