An accomplished pupil librarian at the Howard of Effingham has been recognised by the House of Commons and is one of eight nominees in a national award.

Maia Hipwood, in Year 11 at the Leatherhead school, is nominated for the Pupil Library Assistant of the Year Award and will be attending the awards ceremony on March 16.

The pupil said the library had helped her "build a resilience" and in a letter to the Prime Minister added, "Our library is a safe space to explore our intellectual capabilities."

Maia added: "I think libraries impact people because of how well the library is used and the community around it.

“This makes people feel like they can belong somewhere and know a place to relax as well as a place of refuge.

“It is not just school libraries that have an impact on people, as I think that public libraries do as well."

Award-winning author Tanya Landman is joining school librarians, authors, publishers and names from literacy organisations for the ceremony.

The eight-strong shortlist was selected from an impressive field of nominations from school librarians across the UK.