Homework, study and research
Primary schools
Library subscriptions
Your library card number will be required to access:
Other webpages:
- BBC Bitesize Daily Lessons: home schooling sessions in Maths and English for every year group, as well as regular lessons in Science, History, Geography and more. You can catch up on previous lessons through iPlayer or Bitesize Daily. From Monday 11 January 2021, every weekday at 9am, the BBC will show curriculum-based programmes - CBBC for primary schools and BBC Two for secondary schools.
- Cbeebies Radio: listening activities for younger children
- Circus House: videos demonstrating circus skills that you can work on at home. There’s a 3 ball juggling tutorial for complete beginners or more advanced tricks for the adventurous
- DK Find Out: Dorling Kindersley activities and quizzes
- Edsential at home: themed weekly activities for children and young people to explore, to help stay fit, healthy and motivated. Free downloadable activity sheets are provided.
- Imagination Tree: creative art and craft activities for Primary age
- Kidslingo: multi award-winning language classes online via live video - in French and Spanish
- Maths Factor: let Carol Vorderman teach your child Maths, for ages 4-12 years. Matched to the national curriculum. Site free due to school closures
- National Geographic Kids: activities and quizzes for younger children
- Oxford Owl for Home: free resources for primary age including phonics, spelling and maths activities. Guide to Oxford reading tree also provided
- Red Ted Art: easy arts and crafts for younger children
- Science learning at home: range of topics provided by Jodrell Bank to enhance learning about science.
- Tutortastic Home Learning: free online learning resources including Beanstalk, Twig Classroom and TTS – with many educational sites now with free access, due to school closures
- Twinkl School Closure Home Learning: online resource packs for students in Y1 and Y2, including Google classroom and Joe Wicks move videos
Secondary school
Library subscriptions
Your library card number will be required to access:
- Britannica Library (Student): a well-known resource that has been customised for students. Features such as ‘compare countries’ provides up to date statistics to promote understanding and boost awareness of other countries. Also provides a range of multimedia resources to support research and gain understanding in a range of topics; from architecture to life processes to technology.
- Issues online: covers contemporary social issues, with statistical background information
- Oxford Reference: 100 ready reference titles and thousands of images
- Oxford Dictionary of National Biography: biographical information of over 60,000 people who have helped shaped the British Isles.
Other webpages:
- BBC Bitesize Daily Lessons: daily lessons for home schooling in Maths and English for every year group, as well as regular lessons in Science, History, Geography and more.
- British Council: resources for English language learning.
- Duolingo: learn languages for free (not available via Internet Explorer browser)
- Seneca: free revision resources for GCSE and A level.
- No Fear Shakespeare – Spark Notes: provides the full text of Shakespeare's plays and sonnets side-by-side, with translations into modern English. It also provides summaries of each play as well as a guide to the main characters, themes and significant quotes. Also offers links to further study.
Further education and research
Library subscriptions
Your library card number will be required to access:
- Access to Research: articles from academic journals and conferences (available for use in the library only)
- Britannica Library (Adult): a well-known resource with an advanced factor. Features such as ‘Flash Facts’ and ‘In Their Words’ are designed to support critical thinking and mature debates. With live news feeds from the BBC and The New York Times, adults can keep up to date with global perspectives and current events.
- Oxford Dictionary of National Biography: historical information about people who have helped shaped the British Isles.
- Public Information Online: UK Parliamentary and government publications including acts, bills, command papers, daily Hansard, civil service yearbook and a wide range of statistics
Other webpages:
- Futurelearn: access to 100s of free courses (only pay to upgrade if you need a certificate)
- Openlearn: free taster courses aimed at those considering open university but accessible to all
- The Skills Toolkit: new digital learning platform developed by the Department of Education, linking to a variety of websites and opportunities. Free, high quality digital and numeracy courses available.
- Library Hub Discover: access to details of materials held in many UK national, academic and specialist libraries. Search a database of 169 UK and Irish academic, national & specialist library catalogues (replaces the COPAC and SUNCAT)
- WorldCat: books, journals and media collections of more than 10,000 libraries worldwide
Study tools
- Oxford Dictionaries:expert guidance on grammar, spelling and usage; specialist dictionaries for writers and editors
- Oxford English Dictionary: the full Oxford English Dictionary, over 600,000 words, three million quotations