Wednesday 15th September 2010

A Chesterfield Secondary School is celebrating the opening of its new Student Resource and Learning Centre.

In a project unique to the area, The Meadows Community School in Old Whittington has revamped it's old Library and ICT facilities to create two new, state of the art rooms which will house lessons and provide informal work areas for the students.



The suites now contain 60 computers - for teaching ICT and homework, learning and help for young people who may not have Internet access at home - along with books, newspapers and magazines.

One computer is specially adapted for partially sighted students and staff. Work has gone in to making sure the facilities are relaxing as well, with comfy chairs and bean bags to provide a less formal 'work' environment. Supervised access to the equipment is available before and after school.

The new facilities have proved popular - staff report that more students are using the rooms than before and there are as many as 30 or 40 students in at any one time.

Brenda Cartwright, Business Manager for the school, says "The centre has been so positive, the students can come in before school and read, or they can sit at computers and do work, it's up to them. It's all about promoting reading, even if it's sitting reading a newspaper to find out what's happening in the local community. The students like it in there, it's quiet and the rooms can even be used to reward good behaviour and performance by allowing DVD’s to be watched. It’s a very useful resource centre."

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