Role

The Information Centre provides a central learning resource base for the whole school. It aims to encourage all students to become independent learners and have a positive attitude towards learning by providing a wide range of appropriate resources in a safe, bright and stimulating environment. In addition, it actively encourages students to partake in the many activities organised to enrich their high school experience, promote a sense of ownership of the resources and equipment and raise their social awareness.

Lunch time activities

Lunch times are never dull in The Information Centre, every week there is a word search competition to enter, the winner is drawn on Friday’s and a small prize is given. Friday is games day where students play chess, Scrabble and the latest craze Su-Doku. There is a special club, aptly named Wednesday Club which is open to year seven and eight students and was created to help new year seven students adjust to high school through contact with year eight students. It takes place in an informal environment, there are planned activities and students are encouraged to join in and forge relationships by working together as a team. Since its inception two years ago, we have covered a varied programme of activities from Spycode and Book Bingo to poetry writing and calligraphy. The students benefit not only from the interaction with their peers but also from learning new skills.

New Technology

Over the past five years The Information Centre has really entered the 21st Century with the addition of an electronic security system, new computers and printers and a new Library Management System. The management system has two programs, one for all the main cataloguing, book issuing and record keeping and the other an O.P.A.C. (Online Public Access Catalogue) called Searchstar. Students use Searchstar to find books, websites and other resources and also to reserve and write reviews of books that they have borrowed. When a review has been approved it is then assigned to the catalogue record of that book. This is a great way of promoting reading through peer recommendations.

Special events

Throughout the year there are many events for students to take part in such as quizzes, author visits, fundraisers and book promotions. One of the more recent events being Book Factor, a fun, educational activity to promote reading for enjoyment, planned to coincide with World Book Day on March 2nd. Students also have the opportunity to become involved in planning charitable fundraising events such as Comic Relief Day and Live 8. Following a World War Two history project, Year 9 students planned and organised a cake sale to raise money for the Royal British Legion.