Discovery Centre / Library
The Discovery Centre is an inspirational space, fostering literacy, learning and creativity.
We stock an exciting selection of fiction titles including the latest young adult books, classics and contemporary adult fiction, organized by genre. Our titles cover a diverse range of interests, experiences, identities and cultures to reflect our school community. We are open every break, lunchtime and after school till 4.00pm to browse and borrow, with Librarians on hand to recommend your next good read.
We actively support every student in their reading journey, promoting reading for pleasure through themed book displays, reading challenges, house competitions and author events. Students are encouraged to try new authors and genres in Year 7 and 8 library lessons, which are enriched with author clips, discussion, award shadowing and discovery activities. They also compete to earn achievement points and golden tickets in our Bookopoly Reading Challenge and a lucky student from both year groups will receive a special award to recognise their achievement.
Our non-fiction section supports national curriculum requirements across all subject areas. Students looking to extend their learning can borrow the books recommended in the school super-curriculum. Then there are our research lessons, which help students to successfully find and evaluate information, developing key skills to take with them through Townsend and beyond.
The library catalogue Reading Cloud is available on students’ iPads to browse and make reservations. Students also have iPad access to the digital reading app Sora for eBooks, audio books and graphic novels – so they may never be without a book and always have something new to dive into.
The Discovery Centre is a bookable venue. This is used throughout the school year to host large events including Duke of Edinburgh training, Careers external speakers, World Book Day events and parent information evenings, there is always plenty going on to enhance each students’ time here and provide further support.
Wifi is widely available. Students are welcome to use the space at break and lunch to study, complete homework, read, enjoy a game of chess, join our creative writing or homework club, draw, pick up a wellbeing activity, or take a little time to be quiet during their busy school day.
Our Discovery Centre will always be a place of enrichment, where everyone is welcome to explore and discover who they are and what they are capable of achieving.
