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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

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Original poster

Is your dc's school library open after school?

27 replies

Dancergirl · 08/09/2013 09:37

Dd1 is at an independent girls school and the library is open every day after school till 5pm.

We are looking at schools for dd2, she'll sit for her sisters school but also others. We are considering a girls grammar, one of the top ones in the country. But I was surprised to find out their library is not open after school, only at lunch time.

I'd be interested to hear about other schools.

OP posts:

AtiaoftheJulii · 08/09/2013 10:07

Girls' grammar and mixed comp - both libraries open after school for about an hour, though i think only 4 days a week.

JenaiMorris · 08/09/2013 10:07

Ds's comprehensive is, yes.

SuperiorCat · 08/09/2013 10:23

Mixed secondary. Open til 4.30 every night. Doesn't get used massively as semi rural catchment where over 50% are bussed in.

HmmAnOxfordComma · 08/09/2013 11:55

Not at my school. Rural - over 80% of children bussed in - so the Head won't pay to open the library on that basis. Town library is open.

For the same reason, we have next to no after school clubs either. They're almost all at lunchtime, with a few exceptions (sailing etc obviously can't be done at lunchtime!)

trinity0097 · 08/09/2013 12:12

Our library only available in school time, which is 8.30 to 5.30pm

Kez100 · 08/09/2013 13:33

Yes, until 6, except when there are Governor meetings which start at 5.30! That's not often, to be fair.

Madmog · 08/09/2013 14:45

Mixed comp, open every day after school and also all break times. My daughter has used a few times to get books for projects and books they need to read and review. The lady in there is great and really helpful. Even though there are 1500+ pupils (I appreciate not all will use the library), she knows which styles of book my daughter likes to read.

Original poster

Dancergirl · 08/09/2013 17:31

Would you then say it's surprising that a top girls grammar has no after-school library opening?

OP posts:

coco27 · 08/09/2013 17:47

Only until 5pm

Anthracite · 08/09/2013 17:58

DDs' library is open until 6.30pm, although it is chargeable after 5pm.

BestIsWest · 08/09/2013 19:42

DC's comp is open from about 8am to 5 and all through breaks.

JenaiMorris · 08/09/2013 22:16

With, I imagine, an intake mainly consisting of girls with good resources and an environment at home conducive to study, it wouldn't surprise me, op.

JGBMum · 09/09/2013 09:09

Yes I'm surprised the library at any good school isn't open until at least 5pm.
DDs school pulls in from a large catchment area, catholic school in rural county, so lots do go home on the various school buses, but still the library is open all day til 5pm.

TheOriginalSteamingNit · 09/09/2013 09:17

I think usually for a little while.

But many will close at the end of the day or soon after, and I wouldn't find it surprising - librarians aren't paid very much, and their hours will often not extend that late.

mumslife · 09/09/2013 12:12

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Isthiscorrect · 09/09/2013 15:43

I am a librarian at a senior school, non selective but fee paying overseas. We are open from 7.30am (school starts 7.45) all day until 4pm (school finishes at 3), except Thursday when school finishes at 1 and so do we. We are generally overwhelmed with students, using the ICT facilities and the resources. Sometimes the students are siblings waiting for their brothers/sisters who are at ECA's (every child has to take at least 2 ECAS's), other times its homework/project work, playing chess and scrabble or just chilling. There are two librarians and in that hour we are rushed off our feet helping (which is a good thing IMHO).

mimbleandlittlemy · 09/09/2013 16:35

State academy - library open from 8am (school starts at 8.45) - 5pm (school finishes at 3.10).

Dancingdreamer · 10/09/2013 00:13

Why is it so important that library open? More important to have sufficient access to library in school hours. After school most either go straight home or to after school clubs. However for completeness my daughter at independent girls school has access to library until 5.30 (run after school prep in library)

AChickenCalledKorma · 10/09/2013 08:28

Our library and IT resource centre are both open after school - big comp.

There are quite a few students with relatively deprived home circumstances, so I guess it might be partly to encourage them to stay at school and do homework. But I must admit I thought any secondary would stay open.

MadameDefarge · 10/09/2013 21:26

state academy, library open from 7.30am (school starts at 8.25) until 6.30pm. school finishes at 3.40pm two days a week, and three days a week all students have compulsory additional studiesuntil 4.40pm.

Dancing dreamer, there can often be a queue for library resources, such as computer time, especially for the kids who do not have access to pcs and printers. plus the only free time there is is break and lunch...

Original poster

Dancergirl · 11/09/2013 10:52

It's not SO important but I was curious to know what happens in other schools. Dd2 is a big reader and for her the library is the heart of the school. Plus to be able to use the computing facilities after school is a bonus.

OP posts:

Dancingdreamer · 12/09/2013 14:07

Agree about queues that was my point about having sufficient access during school time. Either a dedicated library period or enough resources to cope with number of children.

On another point with e-readers and internet access at home my daughter barely needs library at school. She reads loads but all downloaded books!

Original poster

Dancergirl · 12/09/2013 14:11

dancingdreamer my dd likes to read them for free from the library first before buying! Doesn't like to waste money!

OP posts:

BackforGood · 12/09/2013 14:52

both ds and dd are at state comps. Not sure about the timings of dd's, but I know they can use it. ds's is open until 4pm (50mins after the end of school).

Talkinpeace · 12/09/2013 17:08

Yes, most days when something is going on.
But until the school closes for the evening there are always corridors where kids can work as well as computers all over the place.
We have hundreds of reference books at home for when its shut.

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