The Ridgeway School and Sixth College in Wroughton, Swindon, has officially celebrated the grand reopening of its newly expanded and refurbished Learning Resource Centre (LRC) with a special ribbon cutting ceremony attended by students, colleagues, and community partners. 
  
Over the past few months, the LRC has undergone a significant transformation, creating a brighter, more spacious, and inspirational area for students to learn, study, read, and relax. Principal Helen Buttery has been a key champion for the project, supporting the vision for a larger, more engaging space for the school community. 
  
The refurbishment has been a team effort, with the site team working tirelessly on plastering, painting, construction, and installation throughout the project. The White Horse Federation’s marketing team also provided bespoke designs and installed the feature wallpaper that now forms a striking focal point of the new space, working with design concepts created by Learning Resource Manager, Emily Dry. 

Sarah Day, the school librarian who led the project, said:   

"The Ridgeway School is proud to celebrate an investment that directly benefits all 1,400 students. The newly relaunched LRC stands as a testament to what can be achieved through collaboration, creativity, and a shared belief in the power of reading and learning." 

A group of year 12 students were involved with assisting the library staff with the genrefication of hundreds of books, and have been quick to share their enthusiasm for the transformed LRC: 

Gracie, Year 12, said: “I love the new banners - they brighten up the space and make it feel much more motivating. It adds real character compared to the plain walls we had before.” 

Isabella, Year 12, commented: “It’s much easier to find different books now, and the space feels cool and relaxing. It’s definitely more spacious and a great environment to work in.” 

Year 12 student Daanya, who cut the ribbon at the ceremony with fellow student Sam, added: “The new space feels much more relaxing and welcoming. Last year it could get quite cramped, but now more students are coming in because it’s such a cool area with plenty of books that are much easier to find.” 

Sam, who helped and enjoyed categorising the books for the relaunch, said: “I love the change in atmosphere. It’s more open, relaxed, and a proper place to sit, unwind, and enjoy a book of your choice.” 

The school also extended heartfelt thanks to several valued partners and supporters: 

  • Rebecca West from The School Library Association for the generous donation of new books for the library. 
  • Anish Harrison from the NLT Swindon Hub for donating books and supporting the school’s regular Swindon Food Collective events, helping to ensure families access to essential supplies for those who need it most. 
  • Sarah-Kate Bridgewater from the National Collection – Science and Innovation Park (Swindon Museum) for supporting with prizes for upcoming competitions. 
  • And FORCE for their annual £500 donation, which this year will be used to expand the highly popular graphic novel collection, consistently the library’s most borrowed genre. 

  
Jon Jones, Secondary Director of Education at The White Horse Federation, praised the project, saying: 

“This refurbishment is a fantastic example of how we can transform learning environments to truly inspire students. The new LRC not only supports reading and academic development but also creates a space where young people want to be. It’s wonderful to see such a positive impact on the school community.”