New Library for Burford School

Mr Albrighton, Headteacher, writes...

Burford School is ambitious for its students and staff. The development of the school is a constant process of review and adaptation.

Our heads of academic departments work daily with their teams to seek out the most effective and engaging teaching ideas, ensuring students are given the best of education. We believe that providing the best education involves a broad curriculum, embracing academic study, sport, music, drama and the wider Arts.

As a school, we do not stand still in providing the facilities that accommodate these opportunities. Today we are excited to bring you news of further development of the site in bringing the library to the middle of the school. We have repurposed some spaces more central to the school as part of ongoing improvements over the coming three years that will see an increase in the capacity of dining and in turn consolidate the spaces making up the Sixth Form Centre.

The library is central to any school serious about learning. More than symbolic, it provides the hub for the community to come together around the skills upon which academic success is built. All learning starts from the process of reading and research. Passions, thoughts and creative enterprise grow from the fundamental skill of reading. Personal connections are also made through the sharing of reading.

Here are some words from Mrs Count and Mrs Howard, our Library team, on this exciting day:

‘The Library's fiction stock is specially curated to entertain and inform; reading, however, is also a key way in which young people learn empathy and respect for others. Students in the Library are encouraged to interact positively with their peers, and we pride ourselves on building relationships and improving wellbeing through book recommendations, Library activities, or in just being a friendly face.

The Library offers a wealth of extra-curricular activities to participate in, from Dungeons & Dragons Club, which encourages teamwork and creative and strategic thinking, to Writing Club, where members are awarded with an annual Writing Retreat, to fun Fridays with Chess and Board Game Club. Student Librarians also serve their school community on a weekly basis, helping to shelve, tidy, create displays, and issue and return books.

The Library challenges students with books that will stretch them, ranging from classic English texts to volumes on theoretical physics. Regular competitions encourage students to hone their skills in art, writing, and creative thinking. Prizes are available for individuals or groups. Writing Club members have gone on to win short story awards and study Creative Writing at university. We support students in researching and obtaining resources for the A-Level Extended Project Qualification, while author visits give students a glimpse of a possible future and help them to dream. We always encourage students to reach for more, no matter where they begin.’