We were delighted to welcome back former Head Girl Ellie Rayer, now a decorated Olympian, to formally open the newly refurbished Senior Girls Library on Monday 27 September.
Ellie attended Claires Court throughout her education from the Nursery School through to Sixth Form where she was Head Girl. A Loughborough graduate, she played as part of the inspiring women's field hockey team in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in which she scored three goals, helping Great Britain to winning a converted Bronze medal.
In the years since Ellie’s departure, she has often returned to Claires Court to host assemblies for the pupils offering words of wisdom and motivation for young women providing inspiration for all concerned. On multiple occasions Ellie has given her time to teach our young students hockey skills and techniques in PE lessons, hopefully creating future Olympians and certainly inspiring future generations at the school.
Paula Copeman, Claires Court Librarian, said “We are delighted to start our new school year with such a wonderful new library. Although our extensive provision of digital information resources has sustained our Claires Court community during online learning, we are thrilled to be able to resume our in-person library services. All our staff and pupils can drop into the library for one-to-one advice and support from trained and experienced information professionals, whether it's advice on research and referencing, or just some help finding the next great book to read for pleasure.
Libraries should always be more than just rooms with books; the Claires Court Library Service now has both an impressive digital portfolio and a new professional space to meet the needs of all its learners and readers.”
Over the summer break the Claires Court Senior Girls library was relocated and redesigned ready for the upcoming academic year. The goal was to create a calm and motivating environment where pupils could relax, read and work independently, or collaborate with fellow students as a group. The choice of literature in the library is highly informative and aligns with the current curriculum, but also represents the important ethos, such as diversity, equality and inclusion, seen throughout Claires Court.
