We have a fully stocked, staffed library at both Upper and Lower School for students and staff to use and plays a central role in learning and teaching and helps meets the needs of all learners. It contributes in many varied ways to the school’s main aim of creating confident individuals, responsible citizens, successful learners and effective contributors.

At Upper School the library is open during lesson time as a quiet place for private study. At Lower School teachers may bring groups down for research and library skills.

Opening times

• Lower School: Monday to Thursday 08.45am-4.30pm and Friday 09.00am-3.00pm
• Upper School: Monday to Friday 08.00am-4.00pm

Students don't need to join, you are automatically a member of the library. You can borrow up to four resources for two weeks, longer if no one else has reserved them.

At break and lunch time both libraries have a more relaxed atmosphere; students from all years can play chess, scrabble or perudo, or they may be reading, catching up with homework or just socialising quietly with their friends.

Why use the School library?

• Access to over 12,000 fiction, non-fiction and reference books

• 11,000 recommended websites on the library software system

• Over 20 weekly/monthly periodicals covering a wide range of subjects

• Daily broadsheets

• A dedicated library page on the school MLE with access to the library catalogue, JSTOR (online journal storage and a must for A-level research), Top Apps, recommended by teachers to support learning, and other online periodicals including New Scientist, The Economist and Prospect

• A growing selection of World Cinema DVDs to support the language department

• Careers section covering Post 16 and Post 18 opportunities. This has a comprehensive set of books on all job groups as well as a range of prospectuses that give information to help students choose the best course and university

• Large Gap Year display and dedicated page on the MLE

• Computers

• Open after school as a quiet place for homework, study and research

• A member of staff to help at all times —don’t be afraid to ask

• Book group for each Key Stage meeting every half term

• Post 16 reading mentor scheme with lower school students

• A silent work place for Post 16 students to focus and study during lesson time

• Annual chess tournament

• Author visits – most recently Gavin Extence, Marina Lewycka and Elizabeth Wein