Learning Facilities

ICT Resources

IT is now a key part of our daily life therefore we believe it is essential to invest in the very best IT resources for the education of our students.

We are constantly developing our facilities to support our changing curriculum and accommodate advances in technology . We have recently invested in two suites of Apple Macs, 30 iPads for student use and over 100 Chromebooks. Our strategic aim is to ensure that all students have access to the resources they need to take full advantage of a 21st Century learning experience, making full use of existing and emerging technology. Our IT provision complements our Blended Learning programme which enables students to use their own devices in all lessons.

Our IT technical team work hard to make sure that students have access to all of the resources they need for all aspects of their curriculum. Computing is taught discretely in lessons but also across the curriculum so high level IT capability is very important.
With IT growing rapidly throughout the school we are regularly improving and developing our hardware and software resources to meet the needs of our diverse group of pupils.
Our IT Facilities include:

600 Computers for staff and students.
Three Dedicated IT Rooms and a dedicated 6th form study area with networked laptops
Two suites of Apple Mac computers
Three trolleys of Chromebooks used by all curriculum areas
Bespoke music suite of PCs and editing software
LCD projectors and a PC in every classroom
Interactive whiteboards in most of our classrooms
Access to collaborative work from anywhere via Google Workspace
Adobe Creative Suite software including industry level packages for Graphics,
Desktop Publishing, Image and Web design in all ICT suites

If you would like to find out more about our IT Facilities or have any other questions please contact us here.

Library Resource Centre

Located centrally within the school, the library is a key supplier of resources for the curricular and recreational needs of students and staff. It is open throughout the day from 8.15am to 4.30pm. Sixth formers are encouraged to use the library for research, and a number of them act as library prefects during break and lunchtimes. Help is also provided by a team of volunteer parent helpers.

Resources in the library include 14,000 fiction and information books, journals, newspapers, eBooks and audiobooks, as well as a collection of book related DVDs. There are 12 networked chromeboxes and 30 Chromebooks, all of which have internet access. A printer/photocopier is available for student use.

The library staff offer help and guidance to the students on the selection and use of materials and seek to foster in them a love of reading. The fiction stock is wide in scope in order to appeal to all tastes and abilities and its use is promoted through new book displays, subject reading lists, themed bookmarks and a book review board. All year 7 students undergo a library induction course during their first term to help develop skills in locating, retrieving and evaluating resources. These skills are then reinforced through curriculum-based projects during years 7 – 9.

During their first weeks at school students will be taught where everything is in the library, and how to find and borrow books using our online Library catalogue:

In addition, eBooks and audiobooks are available via our ePlatform:

We use the Accelerated Reader programme with Years 7, 8 and 9 to encourage regular reading, and students can access Accelerated Reader quizzes online via the Library Chromebooks. Students are also very welcome to pay the LRC a visit during any break or lunchtime, in order to change books, use the computers or simply sit and read.

There are books and resources to suit everyone, from Year 7 to Sixth Formers, from those who devour books to those who are not quite so keen. The fiction is divided up into categories (such as Quick Reads, Romances etc) to help with browsing and each section is clearly marked.

The information books also cater for all ages and abilities, with a particularly good range of resources for the sixth form. Girls in the lower school may borrow up to four books at a time, while those in Years 12 and 13 have a ten book allowance. Items are normally issued for three weeks.

Our other resources include access to national newspapers, a newspaper aimed directly at young people, over twenty curriculum based journals, leisure magazines, and a fast expanding collection of DVDs (mainly dramatised books, plays and foreign language films).

The computers are available throughout the school day and all are internet connected. Each machine can be individually monitored, so sensible use is expected at all times.

Extra- curricular activities include visits from authors such as Sarah Crossan and Holly Smale, as well as participation in the Carnegie Medal shadowing scheme.

The Library also runs a scheme called ‘STAGS Reads’, where the whole school community is encouraged to participate in reading a particular book to earn house points. Past books have included ‘Rosa Parks: My Story’ and ‘A Seven Letter Word’ by Kim Slater.

LIBRARY LINKS

Books & Reviews

Love Reading 4 Kids
The Guardian - Books for Children and Teenagers
Book Trust Bookfinder
YAK Books by Reading Matters

Recommended Reading lists are attached below:

LIBRARY RESOURCES

Approx 14,000 books
2,500 eBooks and Audiobooks
DVDs
Newspapers and magazines
Networked computers

For updates on LRC events and activities, please follow or have a look at the STAGS LRC Twitter Page.

Recommended Reading for Year 7

Recommended Reading for Year 8

Recommended Reading for Year 9

Sports Facilities

Gymnasium

The gymnasium is used as our main space for gymnastics but it also contains markings for volleyball, badminton and basketball. Within the gymnasium there is storage for trampetes, springboards, vaulting boxes and vaulting horses as well as crash mats.

Dance Studio

Our Dance studio is bright, spacious and has excellent heating and air-conditioning for use in the summer. It has ceiling to floor mirrors across one wall with a ballet bar attached. This space is also used for the delivery of yoga, pilates and fitness classes. It has a small changing area, sound system and close mounted projector with lap top and internet connection, allowing for 21st century teaching and learning. Students of the school and external lettings find this an inspirational space for creating dance.

Tennis & Netball Courts

We have 9 tennis courts and 7 netball courts and these are used for both lessons and extra curricular clubs and fixtures.

Sports Hall

The Sports Hall has four badminton courts, a volleyball court, a netball court and a basketball court with eight additional training hoops. There is a curtain dividing the centre of the space, allowing it to be used as two discrete areas. This space is used by many outside clubs such as martial arts clubs, table tennis, roller skating and badminton. There is a large sports hall foyer area which is used as PE department classroom and is fitted out with ICT equipment and specialist analysis software to assist with our students’ sports education.