Digital future to strengthen libraries in two-school plan
CONVERSATIONS about integrating library services into the new secondary education model are positive, according to the head of learning and development at the Guilles-Alles Library.
Elizabeth Hutchinson said she liked what she heard at the drop-in session at Les Beaucamps High School yesterday hosted by the Education, Sport & Culture committee.
Several drop-ins have been held following the announcement of the one-school/two-site system with the aim of explaining the new school structure to islanders and providing answers and advice to dispel any concerns.
Head of learning at development at the Guille-Alles Library Elizabeth Hutchinson was looking at the library set-up at the new school.
Interested to find out more about the structure of the school day, her aim was to see how outside services, such as the library, could work with the two colleges.
‘I had concerns about the size of libraries because there did not seem to be plans to be expanding them, despite more students attending each school. But we are in a digital world now and the conversation I had at the drop-in seemed very positive about what online and physical resources the schools will provide.’
Although the actual library space might not be expanding, there are plans for study areas in the school which will be linked to the library.
Mrs Hutchinson said it was clear the Education committee and civil servants had really thought about what study resources they will be providing for students.
There are plans for communication to begin with the Guille-Alles Library to look at integrating the public library with the two new colleges.
Mrs Hutchinson said she was pleased to hear about the plans of building arts into the facilities already at the sites.
‘They are looking at adding a sort of lecture theatre facility which will provide space for the arts and will give the library a chance to offer more to the students on site.’
Executive headteacher Liz Coffey said discussions with parents, grandparents and interested nearby residents have been largely positive.
‘People tend to start talking about the buildings and what facilities they have, but then discussion moves to how the school will run,’ she said.
The size and scale of the school regularly comes up in conversation, with parents raising questions about how the schools will cope with the number of students across two sites.
‘People are not used to having sites with 1,200 students,’ Mrs Coffey said.
‘‘‘Big school syndrome” has been raised a few times so I’m here to speak to them about vertical tutor groups, the house system, how teachers will ensure every student is known and making sure students don’t slip under the radar.’
The re-structure of secondary education has also given officials time to look at sorting out other problems.
‘We’ve got the chance now to sort a few things out, like recruitment and retention of teachers, how the buses run and enrichment programs that are offered.’
A positive thing to come out of the drop-ins has been when parents bring along their children who are still at Primary School.
‘Going to secondary school is daunting but also exciting. These sessions give the children a chance to look at what school will be like when they leave Primary education. We want them to feel excited about their future.’
At the drop-in, islanders had the chance to see physical plans of the new schools, find out what the new layout means for individuals and see the newly-revealed school uniform.
