Library
The Library is a pleasant room with comfortable chairs, computers and about 12,000 books. Its catalogue, or OPAC is accessible all over school.
Also available through the Learning Platform are a variety of online resources. Look out particularly for Grove Art and Music and the Science Resource Centre which covers Science in its widest sense. See Mrs Hood if you need more details.
Staff
The Librarian is Mrs Hood who is a Chartered Librarian and has worked in school libraries for several years. She is helped by volunteers and 6th formers.
Library Activities
Lessons are held in the Library on various subjects, either to use the resources, to develop reading or to improve information literacy. Mrs Hood can provide reading lists for different ages and abilities and also has a framework for doing a project from scratch.
In addition to formal lessons the Library can be used at break and lunchtime for homework or leisure and various activities are organised such as bookclub, board games and drawing.
Lit Quiz
For many years Wheatley Park has entered a team of Year 7s and Year 8s in the Oxfordshire heat of the Kids Lit Quiz. In autumn 2009 a team of Year 8 boys won the Oxfordshire heat, won the UK final 4 days later and so went to the World Final in Edinburgh in August 2010.
We also have our own KS3 Lit Quiz run by form tutors during registration with a playoff in the Library in Terms 3 and 4. This is extended to the Partnership schools who again have a playoff in the Library at the end of Term 4.
Bookclubs
We hold bookclub on Wednesday lunchtimes where we discuss particular books or good books in general. A popular feature is the home baking. We also look at various Award shortlists and enjoy participating in the Oxfordshire Book Award most of all.
Author Visits
With the help of the PTA we have been able to have authors to visit to talk about their work and sign copies of their books. We look forward to having more.
Other websites to look at:-
achuka.co.uk which gives ideas for reading and information on authors
kidlib.oxfordshire.gov.uk the Oxfordshire Children’s Library website
whichbook.net click on different bars, slide from one type to another then press GO!
