LRC and Extended Services Manager: Mrs Charles
Tel: 01344 465015
scharles@brakenhale.bracknell-forest.sch.uk

The Learning Resource Centre (LRC) is more than a library; it is a place at the heart of the school where students can access learning independently – hence the name. The LRC is fully staffed to provide a safe, supportive environment for students outside lesson times and supports many lessons held within curriculum time. The LRC is open daily from 7:30am – 4:00pm.

The Space

In four years the LRC has been transformed from a dismal, cramped room with a small number of dusty old books and rickety desks bearing a hotchpotch of computers into a light, bright suite of rooms furnished and stocked to meet the growing needs of students and staff. The main area holds our fiction collection and has soft seating for over thirty people.

The Computer area has fourteen computers, laser printers (including colour) and a scanner, all set out on bright modern desks. LR1 is the main resource area and most of the information books are held here; it is equipped with an interactive whiteboard and has adaptable desks with seating for thirty. LR2 the newest room is a multi-purpose area, part classroom: part extended services zone. The class area has seating for twenty-four while the extended services area has comfortable seating for twelve and provides display space and storage for the Youth Spot, School Nurse, Safer Schools Partnership Police Officer and the school Rewards Shop.

The Use

All curriculum areas make extensive use of the resources and facilities. A few lessons are time-tabled in the LRC but most lessons that take place there are at the request of teaching staff who wish to use the books and computers and have access to the adaptable space and resources. Reading is seen as being important in opening the door to learning, therefore each Tutor Group in years 7 & 8 has a fortnightly LRC session timetabled to ensure that students have the opportunity to exchange their books. The expectation at Brakenhale is that students have a book to read; whether for a designated task in some English lessons or for Tutor Silent Reading sessions.

The Staff

The LRC is staffed by Mrs S Charles and Mrs K Daniels. Outside lesson time there is extra support from several Teaching Assistants and Study Supervisors.

Mrs Charles has managed the LRC for almost five years, prior to that she worked for educational IT companies and publishing houses. As a Mathematics graduate Mrs Charles is not the normal “Librarian” but then Brakenhale does not have a “normal library”! Seeing students access and process information independently is one of the aspects of her position that Mrs Charles most enjoys.

Mrs Daniels joined us in the new post of Learning Resource Centre Assistant at the start of the 2007-2008 school year. She brings with her a wealth of ICT skills, very important in this increasing technological age. In her spare time she gives something back to the community as a Guide Leader.

Mrs Lewis, Miss Woods, Mrs Matthews, Mrs Jones and Mrs Wilkes each support the LRC at various times throughout the week. They are always on hand ready to sit down with students and help them to achieve their best whether it is with homework or playing a game of scrabble. Mrs Couchman, one of our Cover Study Supervisors, supports the Homework Club after school and is eager to launch a new “World Fact” breakfast club.

Homework Club

The after school Homework Club is well attended by students from all year groups but there is plenty of space for more! We also provide homework support before school. Help and a quiet space are available every day between 7:30 – 8:30 am and 2:55 – 4:00 pm. Students do not need to book to attend, at after school sessions they just sign in and there is always someone there to support and encourage them in their work. It also provides a safe place after school for students whose parents can not pick them up at 3.00pm.

Lunchtime Activities

The LRC is open to all at lunch time and books, newspapers, computers, scrabble and chess are available. Each day sees different groups meet:

Monday: Fiona Nyquist, School Nurse holds a “Drop-in” in LR2.
Tuesday: Year 7 Book Club meets in LR2, a chance to talk about what students like to read.
Wednesday: General Book Group meets in LR2.
Scrabble Club meets in LR1.
Thursday: The Book Society (TBS) meets in LR2 to hotly debate the newest published books.
Friday: Audio Book, anyone can listen and read in comfort in LR2.

Borrowing Books

All students and staff are members of the LRC and can borrow books and use resources. Books are loaned for two weeks – they need to be returned or renewed after this time. Text books and revision guides in some GCSE and A-Level subjects are loaned for the school year. With the summer holiday installation of Oliver, our new management system, we will be rescanning existing borrower’s thumbs and scanning those of new staff and students. (Biometric scans fully comply with the Data Protection Act and cannot be used to recreate a fingerprint.) You can view your borrower record and what books, audio books and web links are available by “stepping into the LRC” on the school’s intranet home page, we plan eventually to have this available via the Internet website. Book loans for September have exceeded 600 – the highest month’s loans recorded at Brakenhale. We aim to try to keep the borrowing close to this level throughout the year.

Reading for Pleasure

Two new schemes have recently been introduced by the government to encourage reading for pleasure.
Boys into Books has provided twenty exciting free books to interest KS3 boys (although we’re not excluding the girls). Every Year 7 student has now ordered their free book through Booked Up – we hope this scheme will be continued in the coming years.

2008 will be a National Year of Reading and we aim to make Brakenhale a Reading Connects school, one where reading for pleasure is valued, so we invite you to join with us in a Family Reading Campaign. To support this we plan to open the LRC until 6:00pm one day a week as an extended service when all the family will be welcome to read and browse, refreshments will be available.