Secondary School aged children, Key Stage 3 and 4, Years 7 to 11

At secondary school, children and young people can benefit from a broad range of library resources, study support services and volunteering and work experience opportunities to enrich their learning journey and gain valuable workplace experience.

Libraries provide valuable spaces for individual or group study and access to free computers, Wi-Fi and a wealth of online and hardcopy resources, helping students to excel in exams and stay ahead in coursework.

They also offer work experience and volunteering opportunities aimed at nurturing personal growth, boosting confidence in the workplace, and enhancing communication skills; all essential when preparing for the future.

These opportunities are offered as part of scheduled school work experience programmes, through schemes like the Duke of Edinburgh Award and through libraries’ Summer Reading Challenge volunteering roles, but can also be arranged on a more informal basis by contacting the library.

Libraries actively encourage students to 'Study Happy'. In partnership with The University of Worcester, Worcestershire Libraries provide wellbeing support to students, especially those pursuing GCSEs or further education, to help them to achieve their academic objectives while looking after their overall wellbeing.

Further benefits of the partnership with University of Worcester, include access for GCSE students to the University’s ‘Ask a Librarian’ service; an email enquiry service which provides answers to more detailed questions about navigating information resources, databases and referencing.

Library services for children and young people at Key Stage 3 to 4 help them to:

• further develop a desire to read for pleasure and a love of libraries and life-long learning
• develop cognitive functioning
• provide an opportunity for socialising
• inspire and encourage curiosity
• encourage the evaluation of ideas
• encourage children to be ambitious