The Learning Resource Base
Our Learning Resource Base is a hub of school life. It’s a library in the modern sense of the word: an excellent selection of books, comics, magazines and DVDs sits alongside a suite of computers and online resources in a vibrant, welcoming space. Lessons are taught here, but elsewhere in the day games are played, conversations are had and jokes are shared. More than a learning environment, the LRB is an all-round fun place to be.
The space is open and supervised whenever students aren’t in lessons – before school from 7:45, at break, both lunch times and after school. At any of those times you will find students here working, drawing, playing board games and, importantly, reading.
Books & Reading
Reading comes first and foremost. A written newsletter article might not be the best way to reach non-readers, but I’m going to use the platform while I have it.
The research is clear: reading for pleasure is one of the most beneficial things a young person can do for their academic and emotional development, their wellbeing and mental health, and yet as a practice reading is in decline. It’s a worrying trend, and we’re still working towards restoring our own students’ borrowing to pre-lockdown levels. In modern life there are so many competing demands on our attention. Our days are full, time feels short, and reading takes time and effort, but that’s part of what makes it worthwhile. There’s goodness in slowing down, breaking away and nourishing our minds, our creativity and our intelligence.
Reading’s strength and its weakness is that it’s not about instant gratification, but then most meaningful, eye-opening, mind-shaping experiences cannot be delivered instantaneously with the push of a button. When we read, we travel. We live other lives and think new ideas. We return changed. The point is not anything so reductive as growing a vocabulary or improving spelling, although those certainly are benefits. Grandiose as it might sound, reading gives us a better understanding of what it means to be a human, a friend, a citizen, here and there, then and now, and
empowers young minds to shape a better future.
There’s room for all things – balance is important – but we need to make sure we safeguard time and space for reading. Public libraries are closing. Some schools don’t have libraries at all. Fortunately, we do.
Through the LRB, students have easy access to a well-stocked, regularly updated, diverse and exciting library of books which they can borrow to enjoy in school or out. There are friendly and approachable staff with whom they can exchange recommendations. They can use the LRB Reading Cloud online to manage their borrowing, write reviews and engage with each other. We’re committed to supporting our young people in their reading, and your support at home is enormously important.
There’s a proverb that tells us that while the best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago, the next best time is right now. As with planting trees, the best time available to anyone to start (or restart) reading is today. Read to or with or alongside your child – perhaps pick up the book that inspired a film or series you’ve enjoyed together. The benefits of thirty minutes of book time without screens before bed will surprise you. Give it a couple of weeks and it will become routine.
Clubs
After school clubs in the LRB cover a range of interests. Tuesday Games Club sees classics like chess and draughts played alongside modern boxes of magic like Barenpark and Pandemic. Our creative writing group, the We Write Workshop, meets on a Wednesday, and Film and Camera Club meets on a Friday. Homework Club takes place every day.
Useful Resources
LRB Reading Cloud available on Trinity links page – trinityhigh.com/links
BookTrust is the UK’s largest reading charity – booktrust.org.uk
We’ll be celebrating World Book Day on 2nd March – worldbookday.com
Social media is amazing for recommendations – try searching #BookTok or #BookTube