LRC
Welcome to the LRC webpage. We hope this gives you all the information you need about us but if you need any further details don’t hesitate to contact us – better still come in and visit to see for yourselves.
Opening Hours :
Monday 8.15 – 3.05
Tuesday to Thursday 8.15 – 4.30
Friday 8.15 – 3.05
Also open break and lunch times.
Staff:
Mrs M Robertson, LRC Coordinator
Mrs V May, LRC Manager
Mrs S Gillings, LRC Deputy Manager
Resources and Services
Book collection:
The fiction collection is arranged into two sections : Teenage Fiction – a variety of popular and classic novels and short stories suitable for Year 7 to 11 students arranged by genres and Senior Fiction aimed at Six Formers and Staff.
- Magazines and daily newspapers:
LRC subscribe to a variety of subject specialist and general interest magazines ranging from BBC History, Focus, New Internationalist to Sight and Sound. Daily newspapers include The Times, The Guardian, The Mail, The Telegraph, The Independent and local papers such as the County Times.
- Computers:
We have 18 PCs available for use by classes for research purposes or individual study use by students.
- Virtual Learning Area (VLE):
This area is accessible from school or home and enables students to study independently to support and extend their studies in class. The LRC section of the VLE currently includes suggestions for wider reading and advice on study and revision skills appropriate to each Key Stage.
TV/DVD players:
We have two televisions with inbuilt DVD players and headphones available for individual student use in the LRC. These are particularly useful for media studies and watching dramatised versions of set texts.
- Printing/Photocopying:
Print-outs of material and photocopies needed for study may be obtained at a reasonable cost from the LRC.
Activities
Activities range from storytelling to the toddlers from CHC Wakoos Day nursery to research skills support for the 6th Form.
- Reading Groups :
- The Weald Book Award
This is a book award which encourages enjoyment of reading amongst Year 6 and Year 7 students and involves close liaison between the Weald and some of the feeder schools. Students have thoroughly enjoyed taking part in this project over the past three years. Responses to the books have included lively discussion, creative writing and art displays even culminating in an exciting dramatisation of the Battle of Trafalgar complete with booming cannons and grunting pigs!
- Carnegie Book Award:
This is a national children’s prize awarded annually for children’s fiction. Over 90,000 children and young people were involved in the 2008 scheme to meet, read and discuss the books on the shortlist. The scheme provides an excellent website to encourage students to post their own reviews and exchange opinions of the books with young people throughout the country. Year 8 students meet weekly in the LRC to discuss and respond to books on the shortlist.
- Teenage Fiction Book Award:
This another national book award targeted at older teenagers at Key Stage 4. In previous years Year 10 students met in the LRC to discuss and review in depth a range of challenging and sometimes controversial novels.
- Additional reading support for individual readers:
In cooperation with our Curriculum Support Department we provide individual support for students who find reading challenging. Students have the opportunity to receive one-to-one tuition in a friendly, informal and supportive environment. This has proved a very successful way of boosting confidence and raising reading standards.
- Support for research projects:
The LRC provides study skills support across the curriculum and at all Key Stages starting with Year 7 Introduction to the LRC which is followed up by the Dream Holiday Research Skills Project. In Key Stage 3 the LRC are closely involved in supporting research projects in English, eg Shakespeare, Different Cultures and Traditions and the Cross-Curricular Projects in Year 7 and Year 9. We also provide study and revision skills to support GCSE students and Sixth Formers. This includes the development of VLE resources and participation in Sixth Form induction. LRC also help students on an individual basis with homework and study projects.
- Regular topical displays and competitions:
Colourful displays on a range of reading and topical issues are regularly updated to encourage student interest. Recent displays have ranged from recommended reading, Fair Trade, human rights issues and displays of student work. We also hold fun competitions such as Mr Potato Head and Guess the Teacher (based on teenage photos).
Brain Games
We have a wide selection of mind puzzling games for students to try out and have set up a Chess League by popular demand. Students can come in before school to warm up their brains for the day and at break, lunch time and after school.