SENIOR Work Experience at Coram House

Spending time with children both inside and outside, enhancing their play and talking about the world around them sums up their experience with us in Reception. One student also supported one ‘reluctant writer’ to have a go at writing the initial of his name. One particular child really looked forward to our student’s visit. She would ask when she was coming back. An extra pair of hands is always welcome, and the children really looked forward to having them in class. (Katie Staton, Reception teacher and Head of EYFS) t was useful and the ear pupils en oyed getting to know our Sixth former. She assisted with reading spelling words, discussed her home country, taught us key phrases in her mother tongue and marked spelling books from one group. (Belle Wagner, Year 5 teacher)

For me personally it depended on the week. It would have been useful to know what I was going to do in advance. I wanted to be with little children. They were not little children but they were very welcoming. Once it was someone’s birthday and they give me a cake. I was impressed with the curriculum they were studying. They were learning about different types of fa ilies and i igrants. did not have the opportunity to study this when I was their age. (Noodee, work experience in Year 6) h s ea o a o se ha the eas e of hosting some Sixth Form students for their work experience. I met both students and teachers to get their feedback.

• Did you find the visits useful?

• Please give me some examples of tasks that were assigned.

• How beneficial was this to you?

• What have you learned from this experience?

Here is what they had to say …

“Our Sixth form helper has been fantastic. She has been willing to do anything and everything we have asked of her. The children have loved having her in the class. For many of the PSHE lessons, she has been involved in the lesson, talking to the children and supporting them in their ideas. The girls in 6B have formed a lovely relationship with her. She has also been extremely helpful with displaysbacking, laminating. She was always smiling and always interested. Giving the students an opportunity to share about themselves, their cultures, the countries they have come from would be of real benefit to the children but time does not always allow.”

(Beth Jordan, Year 6 teacher)

One student came each week and read stories to the children. She played within the construction area with them and also supported at the making table. I had one other student also who came from time to time and spent time with the children playing games with rules.

I read a lot of books to the children when I was there. I did not think it was hard to adapt to the age and needs of the children. They were really welcoming plus I have done a lot of babysitting. (Freya, work experience in Reception)

At the start of the year, there was this little girl who would not talk to anybody, all she would do was shaking her head. The last time I was there, she was talking to everybody. She had been gradually warming up to things and people. I made everyone play red light green light. They were not following the rules but no one was pushing each other. They were just playing nicely. (Tamar, work experience in Reception)

The main thing I did was helping with spelling tests. One time, they asked me where I was from so we did a geography lesson and then they wanted to learn my language so I taught them some and they would always greet me in my language. I really enjoyed it there. (Sabina, work experience in Year 5)

In Nursery, their lessons were about how to share their feelings and relationships. I thought it was a really good lesson as they learned how to treat people. I do not remember learning that when I was little. (Hailey, work experience in Nursery)

For me it was hard to talk to all the children but some of them taught me how to be patient and they helped me improve my social skills. (Lam, work experience in Nursery)

This work experience was positive for all concerned. It allowed our Sixth Form students to form part of their careers education and to observe and learn. It sounds like they learned a lot from our little ones.

Sophie Schoukroun Deputy Head of Coram House

Ackworth Pride Group

Ackworth School is a place where students should feel safe, accepted, and respected for who they are. Last year, the school launched a Pride group, aimed at the LGBTQ+ community, but of course open for anyone to attend.

Run by Oliver McCarthy-Bell, and with Sixth Form mentors, the group explores issues relating to the LGBTQ+ community, and so far have covered topics such as dealing with homophobia, coming out to family, exploring attitudes towards LGBTQ+ people in religion, and learning about some important events in LGBTQ+ history, such as the Stonewall Riots.

The group currently has both Second and Third Formers regular attending, but the group is open to any students, both day students and boarders. The group meets on a Tuesday break time, in the Music Centre Hall.

February is LGBTQ+ history month, and as part of this, Pride Group have started to e plore in uential figures from the community.

In one of our meetings, we discussed the work of photojournalist Kay Tobin, exploring the impact she had when she took over as art director on lesbian publication The Ladder. Tobin began using portraits of real women on the cover, rather than illustrations. We then became photojournalists by captioning some modern images from Pride marches and celebrations la nstagra

Food Technology

At the beginning of the Spring a e o a e t our registrar, attended a e t ent a n an o

The fair was extremely successful and Ackworth School was the most visited stand of the day.

Nicola also used the opportunity to meet with current parents and agents to discuss pupil progress. She was very well looked after.

Nicola was joined by Max, an old scholar who was able to share his fond memories with prospective families.

In the Autumn Term of 2022, The Great Ackworth ake Off was back And to what acclai students signed up meaning that heats had to be held to narrow the field for the two categories Junior & Intermediate and Senior & Sixth Form. This was the perfect opportunity for students to showcase their talents and they did not disappoint. The standards were incredibly high in the taste category for the Heats making it very difficult for the judges. Nevertheless, they persevered through the sugar high to select eight finalists for each category.

It was then my absolute privilege to spend two Saturday mornings with such wonderful students as they produced their cake that represented their favourite season. The designs were brilliant, with each group bringing something co pletely different to the table. lti ately though the skill of y and her able assistant Steven for Fothergill and the sponge-making skills of Charlotte and Charlotte for Woolman won through and our champions were crowned for 2022. I look forward to 2023's instalment.

Heather Gordon, Head of History, Pastoral and Academic Lead for Second & Third Form