Learning Centre

LEARNING CENTRE

The Learning Centre was established in response to the revised workload agreement to cover for absent colleagues through sickness or planned absence.

There are two permanent members of support staff, Mr M Stevenson and Mr R Proctor, who both have teaching experience and a considerable knowledge of ICT and support systems.

The Centre is divided into three distinct colour coded areas and can accommodate up to 84 pupils at any one time.  Pupils can use this facility as a homework club and work after school up to 4.00 pm.

There has been a measurable impact from the Learning Centre on both pupil coursework and homework.

We have also used this facility to deliver training courses for both staff and the elected governing body.  This unique facility has won both local and national recognition and our former Head teacher Mr M Porter  and the Learning Centre Manager Mr M Hinchliffe gave a key note speech to the Specialist Schools Trust about the Learning Centre and the re-modelling of the workforce.

Our primary feeder schools are involved in the delivery of the ECats testing and our pupils use the Learning Centre to study and take a variety of on-line tests to obtain their GCSE in adult literacy and numeracy.

We invite both current and prospective parents to visit the Learning Centre to view our pupils work and the opportunities that it can offer their children.

M Hinchliffe

Inclusion Resource Manager

From a Year 8 Pupil's Perspective

"When we come up to the Learning Centre, first of all you look on the board outside to see which colour chairs you will be sitting on this is so classes can be sorted into group and sit together, second of all you all walk into the room in a sensible manner and quietly and sit on the colour chair you are supposed to unless told otherwise.

You then will be told what activity you will be doing this could consist of working on the computers or working on paper, teachers will either tell you what you will be doing or you will be shown on either the Smartboard or Ebeam, if you have been told you will be working on the computers you must then log in with your username and password. Every pupil in the school has their own unique username and password.  You will then get on with your work, you are allowed to talk to your friends as long as it doesn’t get too loud and you aren’t distracted from doing your work.  Then when you have finished your work will either print off your work or save your work.  If then you have still got time spare you will either be given more work or you may be allowed on the Bitesize, misuse of the internet will result in working on paper or isolation.

I think the Learning Centre is a good idea because we don’t have supply teachers when teachers are away you can just send them into the Learning Centre and children also learn to work with computers.  Most pupils look forward to going into the Learning Centre because it is a pleasant environment to work in.  You are allowed to sit with your friends as long as you behave and get your work done.  The teachers in the Learning Centre are very well educated and are always there to lend a helping hand when pupils need it.  The Learning Centre has been up and running for 2 years now and is still in great condition and will carry on into future years.

The Learning Centre also has posters and pictures placed around to help you with your work. I think the Learning Centre is a brilliant place to work and has already improved in the years I have been at this school and I am very proud that my school has this facility."