The Knights Templar School

Accessit

Our web-based school library catalogue for all resources including fiction, non-fiction KS3, 4 & 5 titles, GCSE and A Level revision guides and journals/magazines, audio CDs and DVDs. Click HERE to access.

What we aim to achieve

to be an integral and effective part of Knights Templar School,
to develop a whole school reading community which enjoys reading widely and for pleasure.
to make a positive contribution to Teaching and Learning by meeting the information needs of all pupils across all year groups and abilities
to ensure all pupils have the opportunity to become confident and effective independent learners
to offer literacy intervention initiatives, in liaison with other departments, to help develop literacy skills in our pupils with the aim of narrowing the gap in attainment.
to keep abreast of information technology and utilise new innovations which help to achieve all of the above aims.
to help to foster confidence, tolerance and a sense of wellbeing all our students.
to provide a calm and enriching supervised environment conducive to discovery and learning.
to provide a place where students from all years are given the opportunity engage with one another and use their creative initiative during their free time.

How we achieve this

Ensuring that the aims of the Library & Resource Centre reflect those set out in the School’s Improvement Plan and reflecting and promoting its ethos and aims.
Purchase up to date and bespoke resources (fiction and non-fiction) to meet the interests and needs of all of our students.
Close collaboration with all Faculty and Subject Leads throughout the academic year to plan for provision of curriculum resources in a variety of formats, which effectively support subjects taught at KTS at all levels across each year group, and to provide easy access to these.
Establish effective one to one peer reading intervention programme to support literacy skills development in reading, speaking, listening and comprehension. Formal and informal training of volunteer students in Year 9 and above to become Reader Leaders and mentors on the programme.
Promoting the importance of Information Literacy in the 21st Century and provide formal Information handling skills expertise through self-help guides, training and induction sessions, in addition to informal day to day support.
Initiate and participate in literacy initiatives including book groups, celebration of and participation in national and local reading/author events, for example : Carnegie&Kate Greenaway Award, World Book Day, North Herts Schools Author Event, school Book Fairs, author visits.
Build on Library and Information Science expertise through professional CPD training; examples include CILIP and affiliated professional/educational bodies, as well as sharing best practice with fellow professional Librarians and Library Staff within the secondary school sector.
Arrange the layout of the Library to be such that it provides space for individual study, group work, class teaching and work at computers, in addition to quiet reading areas and space for browsing; also focused and positive interaction at break times.
Creation of themed displays, quizzes, craft activities, fundraising for example : Book Aid and Christmas Library Activity Week
Encourage and train interested students to become student librarians and Library helpers who are actively involved in running the library.

Useful websites

Hertfordshire Library Service - for details of all Hertfordshire Library Services
National Literary Trust - the site of The National Literacy Trust which is an independent charity that transforms lives through literacy by supporting literacy initiatives for all ages from babies to adults
Carnegie and Kate Greenaway - Details of the Carnegie and Kate Greenaway annual awards scheme and the related shadowing reading project
The Childrens Literacy Charity - Children’s Literacy Charity offering one to one literacy intervention programmes

Reading and book review websites for teenagers

[** includes adult titles]

Library Staff

Mrs Martin, Library Manager

Has worked in the Knights Templar School Library since 2015 enjoying the day to day running of a school library alongside promoting reading as she is passionate about the benefits to well-being and academic success as well as for the simple pleasure and enjoyment of it as well as supporting the teaching staff in encouraging students to utilise the available resources allowing them to reach their academic goals.

Interests:
Arts & Crafts, Live music, Community events.

Mrs Martin's recommended reads:
Chaos Walking trilogy by Patrick Ness
Echo Mountain by Lauren Wolk
Noughts and Crosses series by Malorie Blackman

Mrs Wiltshire, Library Assistant

Joined KTS in 2013 as a Teaching Assistant working mainly within the Design & Technology Department. Now working 3 days a week in the Library, Miss Wiltshire enjoys greeting the students, keeping books and shelves organised, keeping up to date with new and emerging authors and creating some displays to inspire their reading.

Interests:

Reading books, buying books, colouring, and some wintertime crocheting.

Recommended reads:

The Measure by Nikki Erlick

The Book Eaters by Sunyi Dean

The Botanist by M. W. Craven

Mrs Boddy, Library Technician

Experienced member of the library team since 2003 ensuring all library stock is ready for loan to staff and students, managing the booking of class sets of iPads and supporting students pastorally building their confidence and self-esteem.

Interests:
Theatre, musicals, cinema and 80’s music. Trips to English Heritage, National Trust sites and the seaside. Anything to do with cats!

Mrs Boddy’s recommended reads:
Alfie The Holiday Cat by Rachel Wells
Dewey by Vicki Myron
Four Weddings & A Fiasco by Catherine Ferguson
Always remember your name : the children of Auschwitz by Andra Bucci