Westholme School - Facilities

Facilities

We are very fortunate at Westholme to be able to offer first class facilities to our pupils.

The girls enjoy lessons in specialised rooms for specific subjects. These include purpose-built Science laboratories, Art and Music studios, Design Technology, Textiles, Food Technology, as well as Modern Languages which all have their own specialised areas. Our Theatre also provides first class, professional facilities for drama.

The Westholme Theatre

We cater for a wide variety of interests and Westholme School boasts a professional sized theatre, including a Green Room, superb lighting equipment and a large, versatile stage.

Music

Music is a very strong feature here at Westholme and all lessons are held in dedicated classrooms and there are also a number of individual practice rooms for pupils.

The girls can choose to play from a wide range of musical instruments and they also have the opportunity to join any of our very popular and successful school orchestras, bands and choral groups.

Sport

Our sports facilities are extensive, including a large all-weather hockey pitch, sports field, sports hall and indoor swimming pool as well as netball and tennis courts.

ICT

Our ICT facilities are up to date, with excellent open-access provision of computers and access to the internet. Most classrooms are fitted with interactive whiteboards to encourage the use of ICT in all lessons.

CDT

We also have a full range of CDT rooms specifically designed and equipped for a whole range of craft and design work. Girls are encouraged to obtain as much practical experience as possible and to work with a wide variety of materials and processes.

Library

The well-stocked library is situated at the centre of the school in a modern building and offers an impressive range of facilities. The spacious accommodation comprises an area of large tables which easily accommodates a whole class, a separate sixth form study room and a comfortable sitting area for pupils wishing to read. There are extensive views over Mellor and the distant hills, making the library a very pleasant room for studying and browsing.

The library contains about 13,000 books plus DVDs and videos, magazines and newspapers and a cuttings file. There are computers with internet access and a computerised library catalogue. A photocopier is available for pupils to use. University prospectuses and other careers material are kept at the back of the library. A separate room contains modern language resources, computers, audio machines and televisions with DVD/Video players.

Staff

The library has a full-time librarian and the Network Manager and IT technician are also based in the library to offer IT support to staff and pupils.

New stock is regularly bought for the library and the latest titles are displayed and added to information leaflets. Scholastic book fairs are held each year and these are always popular. As well as generating enthusiasm for books, they add to the library stock in commission! Apparently we are one of the top secondary schools for the amount spent at these fairs!

World Book Day

World Book Day is always celebrated in the library with either competitions or visiting speakers. In the past, authors such as Susan Price and Sherry Ashworth have come to speak to pupils and give workshops with some classes. Westholme always enjoys a dressing up day and we have dressed as book characters on more than one occasion. The whole lower sixth dressed as 101 Dalmatians is part of Westholme legend. In 2007 we held a decorate your classroom door as a book competition, and in 2009 there was a Murdery Mystery in the Library - a real whodunnit!

Quizzes

Quizzes are always popular and the library Christmas competition has become one of the annual rituals of the school! There is great rivalry in the Sixth Form common room between competing teams!

The library is truly at the centre of learning at Westholme and offers a wonderful resource to all pupils.

Westholme Sixth Form

Although the Sixth Form is very much part of the Senior School, it does have its own dedicated block which includes a large common room, cafe, work area, specialist classrooms, conference facilities and lecture theatre.

Feb 8, 2012

Law Seminar

quiz night Alumni Careers Seminar