Library

The Library is situated on the ground floor of the Grange Building and is regarded by many as the heart of the school, the natural home for individual and independent learning. It is open from 8.15am to 3.30pm during term time and is staffed by one Librarian. Years 7-11 have one period a fortnight in the library as part of English lessons to encourage and widen reading choices and improve literacy skills.

Year 12 & 13 are expected to use the resources in the library for their independent study.

A wide variety of titles are available for loan from a stock of over 7000 Fiction and Non-Fiction books and there is also a Reference section. In addition videos and a small but increasing selection of dvds can be borrowed for three nights. Seven networked computers are available for students to use. In June 2009 a fully integrated Library Management System “Eclipse.Net” was implemented. This has proved to be an efficient way of issuing books and offers students easy access to the library catalogue for research on all computers throughout the school.

During Term Two Year 7 & 8 students take part in Readathon and have raised considerable amounts of money for the Roald Dahl Foundation and CLIC Sargent charities over the last five years. Students in Years 8 & 9 have the opportunity to take part in reading groups shadowing the Carnegie Prize and the Booktrust Teenage Prize each year. Year 10 & 11 students are given the chance to become Librarians assisting in the library during lunchtimes.