We intend:
- To ensure educational enrichment opportunities, including experiences, visits and visitors are central to our curriculum vision.
Time allocation: 2 hrs independent (some will have supervision)
All students are expected to take part in two hours of enrichment per week. The enrichment programme consists of a variety of opportunities which are continually added to. The following enrichment opportunities are currently on offer.
The DofE is many things to many people, supporting generations to successfully navigate adult life. 14-24 year-olds can do a DofE programme at one of three progressive levels which, when successfully completed, leads to a Bronze, Silver or Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. There are four sections to complete at Bronze and Silver level and five at Gold. They involve helping the community/environment, becoming fitter, developing new skills, planning, training for and completing an expedition and, for Gold only, working with a team on a residential activity. Any young person can do their DofE – regardless of ability, gender, background or location. Achieving an Award isn’t a competition or about being first. It’s all about setting personal challenges and pushing personal boundaries. Through a DofE programme young people have fun, make friends, improve their self-esteem and build confidence. They gain essential skills and attributes for work and life such as resilience, problem-solving, team-working, communication and drive, enhancing CVs and uni and job applications. Top employers recognise the work-ready Award holders bring to their business. The Award was created for young people between the ages of 16-18 to commemorate the late Pope John Paul II who was so committed to young people and who has such a belief and confidence in them. “I believe in youth”. The youth of today will be the leaders in the church and in society in the future. (Pope John Paul II). All students have the opportunity to complete the John Paul II Award, students will be allocated a mentor to support them and our Chaplin, Mrs Balls plays a leading role in coordinating and supporting activities for the students. There are three awards; Gold, Silver and Bronze with each level requiring parish involvement and social awareness. Further information is available from Mrs Balls and on the website. CREST is a scheme that inspires young people to think and behave like scientists. It is a nationally recognised scheme for student-led project work in the STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and maths). The Silver and Gold levels are designed to stretch your students. They are long-term, in-depth projects that are run by the students themselves. Students choose the topic and type of project they want to run. Silver projects are typically completed by students aged 14+ years and Gold by students aged 16+. At this level, students are encouraged to collaborate with a CREST mentor– an academic or person from industry with expertise in their project’s theme. CREST Silver and Gold Awards are highly sought after, and are a good way to enhance a student’s UCAS personal statement or CV. Paired Reading gives younger pupils the opportunity to read to older, confident readers. This helps to improve the pupils reading by helping to increase their decoding, fluency, comprehension and/or vocabulary, this in turn could increase their actual reading age. Students would support in reading sessions listening to pupils reading and supporting their progress. Sixth Form students could ‘buddy up’ with a younger pupil (yr7 or yr8). They would meet up with their buddy once a week (about 15mins) and become a mentor to them. They can support with an anxieties the pupil may have around school, homework and be someone that can check in with them time to time. Sixth Form students can volunteer to support in KS3 lessons. Students would choose a subject area they are interested in and ideally achieved well at GCSE. Studnets would work with the class teacher giving them an insight into either education or working with young people.
