The Senior School Library

Our Library is a central part of Senior School life. It is a haven where students are encouraged to read and study quietly. It is designed for two main purposes: to extend the curriculum and to inspire a love of reading.

The Library is staffed by a professional librarian who is available for advice on anything from finding the right book for homework, to wider reading suggestions. Exhibitions and displays provide continuous inspiration.

There are over 10,000 items in the collection available for loan or reference. Open daily from 8.00am to 6.00pm,the Library provides an up-to-date information service to both staff and students. There are 24 MacBooks, all with internet access and academic software. Periodicals are available on subjects as diverse as sciences, the arts, politics, economics and current affairs.

Our Librarian organises many activities throughout the year including: book clubs, author visits, book fairs, competitions and quizzes, and book award shadowing. We shadow the Carnegie Book Award in collaboration with local schools and also The Guardian’s Children’s Fiction Prize. We take part in the GDST book award, organised collaboratively by the GDST librarians, which highlights the best in new reading for our students.

Information and referencing skills contribute significantly to the students’ capacity to manage their work. To support this, the Library runs an information skills programme which teaches the students how to handle information. The aim is that all students gain the confidence to become independent, self-motivated, life-long learners.