Library Service
Castleford High School library being at the hub of the school is centrally located for all staff and pupils. Mrs Stroud, the learning resources center manager endeavors to reach out to all parts of the school. On offer is a good balance between reading for pleasure, information retrieval and study and learning. Pupils see the library as a 'good place to be' and are encouraged to make it central to their education.
With Stock hitting the 10,000 mark we take pride in the fact that financially the Library is well funded and supported by management. Stock management takes priority and displays are up to date, colourful and inviting. Seating is comfortable and pleasing on the eye, and hence very popular. It follows that students have respect for the Library environment and are also encouraged in the running of the area.
Book clubs (Carnegie Shortlist) Book fairs, Volunteer reading matters, Career and Aim Higher Mentoring, Work experience, Learning Seminars, Student Council Meetings, are to name but some of the many activities held in the library, in other words 'never a dull moment.'
The Library is open: Monday - Thursday 8.30 am - 4.30 pm
Friday 8.30 am - 4.00 pm
Offering good homework facilities to all students
Aim Higher Service
The Aimhigher programme in schools is a nationally implemented scheme aimed at raising the aspirations of pupils from primary schools through to colleges by means of close mentoring and solution focussed thinking. Pupils selected to be in the Aimhigher cohorts are encouraged to look toward further and higher education throughout their school lives and ask themselves “What can I not only achieve, but, what do I have to do to get there?”
Aimhigher has, at its very heart, the duty to inspire & motivate but also to answer these questions through mentoring and the provision of structured activities. At Castleford High School we are proud of our mentoring process and the many activities that we have organised over recent years. We are doubly proud because these are designed for all pupils, not just the few, to raise attainment by first and foremost raising aspirations.
Whether by engaging learning through liaison with businesses such as Costain, the company behind the new Castleford walkway, or, by arranging residential visits to Oxford, Cambridge and York St. Johns University, or, by promoting specialist interests by visiting institutions such as Bishop Burton, one of the countries leading agricultural colleges, in recent years the Aimhigher scheme has played a pivotal role in raising standards across the school.
Some recent activities:
Period Costume & Set Design – Leeds University
UCAS University Convention – Harrogate
NHS Careers Day – Huddersfield
Thackray Medical University – Leeds Teaching Hospitals
Aimhigher Challenge Day
Rocket Factory – Wakefield College
Physics & Astronomy – Leeds University
Passport to University
Introduction to University Life – York St John’s University
Agriculture & Equine Management Insight - Bishop Burton College
Aspiration Raising Day
Costain Bridge Building
Technology Challenge
Cragrats Drama Group – Introduction to further education
Women into Engineering, Hovercraft Building Day
Leadership Day
Motivational Day
Aimhigher Roadshow
Cambridge Residential
Oxford Residential
Business Management - Hull University
Activities planned for the near future:
Oxford Residential
BBC News & Sport On Tour - Hull
Insight into Media Production – Yorkshire Television
Media in Print – Yorkshire Evening Post
Sports Science & Psychology – English Institute of Sport
Bugs, Bodies n’ Vibes Science Day
Forensic Science – University of Bradford
Team Building Day
West Yorkshire Playhouse Backstage Tour
Morrisby Testing
