Library

Staffed by a full-time professional librarian and part-time assistant, the library is open every day from 8:30am to 4:30pm. Pupils have free access to all resources which include some 11,000 books, newspapers and magazines.

The library holds regular events throughout the year, with visiting authors featuring as a customary calendar slot. Over the years, names such as Darren Shan, Garth Nix, Joe Craig, Robert Muchamore, Alex Scarrow, Dan Freedman, Dave Rudden, Christopher Will Hill and many others, have visited. Most recently we moved into the world of virtual visits when Chris Bradford was beamed in to three classes simultaneously to deliver his interactive Samurai workshop.

Other activities include creative writing workshops and our virtual book club. Many pupils shadow Book Awards, reading the short-listed titles, taking part in various associated workshops and inter-school events. All are publicised through the library Google classrooms.

Pupils in years 8 and 9 participate in the Accelerated Reader scheme where boys take online quizzes based on our reading stock. This has had a positive affect not only in improving reading skills, but also in encouraging enjoyment of reading and increasing awareness of authors. Parents can elect to receive emails when their child takes a quiz and in this way keep informed of their son’s reading. A summer ‘Celebration of Success’ takes place annually and is a means of marking the achievements of the ‘book millionaire’s and those who have exceeded expectations.

By way of supporting curriculum projects, the library offers various topic files ranging from ‘Adaptation’ to ‘the Peasant’s Revolt’ in addition to a huge stock of non-fiction books.

Hard copy revision materials in addition to wider curricular reading, a huge array of newspaper cuttings and magazines all support the curriculum within the confines of the library, whilst access to various digital archives including Philip Allan, Complete Issues, Media Magazine etc. bring the library out of its physical constraints through electronic accessibility via the ilibrary –https://sites.google.com/c2ken.net/rbaiilibrary/home

And with an eye on the future, concerns such as plagiarism or how to use ‘Google Scholar’ effectively are also addressed through this means, so that pupils are aware of what is at stake in this cut and paste generation.