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Letter to the principal requesting a quiet reading room

Written by Sara Ahmed (English)

A formal request with a clear purpose, practical proposals and a polite closing. Includes a model letter and an explanation of its organisation.

The task

Write a formal letter to your principal asking for a quiet reading room after school. Explain the need and suggest practical arrangements. Names and dates in the model are illustrative.

Points that earn marks

  • Use a suitable address, date, salutation and subject. Follow the format required by your teacher.
  • Explain the particular difficulty rather than making an unsupported complaint.
  • Make a realistic request and suggest supervision, opening hours and care of the room.
  • Use a respectful tone and finish by asking the principal to consider the proposal.

Model letter

15 November 2026

The Principal, Model Secondary School, Lahore.

Subject: Request for a quiet reading room after school

Dear Principal,

I am writing on behalf of several Class 9 students to request a quiet reading room for an hour after school. Some of us share small rooms at home, while others wait for transport and would like to use that time for study.

We suggest using an available classroom on three afternoons each week. Students could sign in with a supervising member of staff and bring their own books. A short set of rules could require quiet work, careful use of furniture and a tidy room before leaving. We understand that this would depend on staff availability and the school’s arrangements for safety.

A reading room would give us a place to revise lessons and complete written practice without disturbing other activities. We would be willing to help collect students’ suggestions and prepare a simple timetable for your consideration.

Please consider allowing a short trial so that the school can judge whether the arrangement is useful and manageable. Thank you for considering our request.

Yours faithfully, A Class 9 student

About 190 words.

Useful phrases

  • I am writing to request
  • We suggest using
  • This would depend on
  • Please consider allowing

Common mistakes

  • Making a demand instead of a respectful request.
  • Promising supervision without checking that a member of staff is available.
  • Using informal greetings or exaggerated complaints.
  • Giving a long introduction without saying what is being requested.