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Developing character and promoting civic responsibility, kindness and thoughtfulness
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As part of our ongoing curriculum development at Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School, we will be introducing an additional compulsory Co-Curricular Period to our Timetable for the academic year starting in September 2022. The primary focus of this new programme will be ‘Academic Enrichment’. However, there will be other elements to our Co-Curricular provision, with an acknowledgement that not all students are suited to a particular type of activity. Therefore, our Co-Curricular offer will be organised into the following three categories: 1. Academic Enrichment/Super Curricular - encapsulates all those activities that foster academic endeavour beyond the measurable outcomes of examination results. 2. Community Element - This element of our Co-Curricular offers students the opportunity to participate in altruistic activities that benefit the School or wider community. 3. Participation Element - This is based on the principle, that the activities provided must be distinctive from our current curricular offer and different to the activities that students commonly engage with outside of School) This booklet represents the incredible range and depth of clubs and societies on offer over the course of the year, from sport and music to creative and academic. It will also provide parents and students with the opportunity to select their options for the next Academic Year. The options sections is included at the back of this booklet. Please take the opportunity to read about all options before making your selections! Students will be asked to select their options and submit their ‘Options Form’ electronically by 6pm on Thursday 16th June. Please note that the Co-curricular Offer will run on a fortnightly basis (on Thursdays) from 3.15pm to 4.15pm. This is a compulsory study element for all students in years 7 to 12. The Co-Curricular Timetable will run on Week 2 only.
The Co-Curricular Programme will be divided across two rotations.
- Rotation 1 will run for 8 weeks from Thursday 15th September 2022 to Thursday 12th January 2023. - Rotation 2 will run for 8 weeks from Thursday 26th January 2023 to Thursday 13th July 2023 Please note that some activities will run with the same students for both rotations. In addition, certain enrichment activities, such as the School Medical Society (Medical Minds) and CENTRESTAGE will continue to run outside of the Co-Curricular timeslot. Many of the Co-Curricular activities will incorporate a competitive element, which may take the form of intra-school contests or entry to a variety of national challenges, Olympiads and Competitions, which will provide our students with the opportunity to test themselves and work collaboratively.
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"The ultimate goal of the Co-Curricular Programme is to underpin the vision that shapes student life at Bishop Vesey's Grammar School, namely, ‘Inspiration and Excellence.’ We want our students to engage in scholarship that promotes the acquisition of knowledge and a lifelong love of academia. In addition, we want students across the School, to have the opportunity to develop their character through participating in altruistic activities that promote civic responsibility, kindness and thoughtfulness. Moreover, the participation in such activities will engender a confidence and resilience that prepares them for life beyond BVGS." The programme provides our students with the following opportunities and transferable skills:
To boost academic performance. To make our students more competitive in the field of ‘ultra-selective’ University/apprenticeship applications To encourage students to use their initiative. To enable students from different Year Groups to work collaboratively. To develop interpersonal skills. To cultivate leadership potential. (All activities will be supported by Sixth Form students and students from all years will be encouraged to take ‘the lead on certain sessions) To encourage our students to understand the importance of commitment, respect, integrity, perseverance and tolerance.
Note that our Co-Curricular Programme will supplement our existing Extra-Curricular provision and where an extra-curricular activity is planned for 2022-23, students, will be expected to attend these sessions.
Activity Rugby Hockey Mandarin Senior Choir MR D. T GOODWIN JUNE 2022
Year Groups 10 7 9 10-12
Rotations 1 1 1&2 1&2
BISHOP VESEY'S GRAMMAR SCHOOL | CO-CURRICULAR BOOK
BISHOP VESEY'S GRAMMAR SCHOOL | CO-CURRICULAR BOOK
INDEX
7
Art
Clay Club
Classics and Modern Foreign Languages
Catalan for Beginners Latin - An Introduction German Club Italian for Beginners Beginners Spanish
Community and Outreach Digital Debating
Learn, Educate, Inspire, Make Community Choir Cipher Challenge Coding, Competitions and Challenges
Engineering Club F1 in Schools
English
Creative Writing Club English Performance Poetry Club
EPQ Food History and Humanity
9
10
11
L6
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• • •
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Debating Society
Engineering
8
• •
• •
•
• •
• •
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Extended Project Qualification
•
Practical Cooking Skills for Life
•
Hidden Histories Big History
• •
• •
• •
• •
• •
•
BISHOP VESEY'S GRAMMAR SCHOOL | CO-CURRICULAR BOOK
INDEX
7
8
Junior Problem Solving Maths and Physics Society* Strategic Planning Society Pre University Admission Tests*
•
•
10
11
L6
○ ○
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• •
• • •
Plants and the Environment
Gardening and Botany Club The Environment Society*
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Politics and Economics
Politics Society Stock Market Challenge
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• • • •
• • • •
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Quizzing and Strategy
Quiz Society Brainteaser Challenge Sudoku Club Chess Club
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•
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Science
Young Investigators Astrophysics Club* Scientific Investigations Science Journal Club*
• •
• • •
•
Wellbeing Group Golf - An Introduction Running Club Tennis Club Vesey Fit Camp
• • • •
•
•
•
•
• •
• •
• •
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Maths
Sport and Wellness
• • • •
9
•
•
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○ Top sets in these years can participate *Activities that run throughout the year are marked with an asterisk. Activities not marked are offered on an 8 week rotation and students will swap their activities half way through the academic year
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ART Further, your ceramic knowledge and skills make and glaze your work! • Clay Club 7
•
Use evidence from contextual sources; images and artist to develop your own ceramic sculptures. Develop technical skills of ceramic building to construct your chosen form.
Activity 1- Personalised clay hanging. Learning new clay processes and glaze your work. Activity 2 - Make a 3-D form; Autumn term is a clay pumpkin, Spring term is a Valentine's rose.
CLASSICS AND MODERN FOREIGN LANGUAGES
Catalan for Beginners 9 10 11 L6
Catalan is a Romance language which evolved from Latin, just as Spanish, French, Italian, Romanian and Portuguese, to name a few. It is spoken by around 10 million people, mainly in Spain, but also in Andorra, where it’s the only official language, and in a city called Alghero in the island of Sardinia, Italy. If you like languages, Catalan is a unique one to learn, and if you have studied other Latin languages it will be relatively easy to learn! Through these sessions you can learn all about Catalan culture too, from art, history, football, music, traditions and festivals etc. If you are considering applying to study languages/Spanish at University, learning Catalan will be a great advantage to you. As part of your year abroad you may go to Catalonia, or you may choose to work there at some point. In this case you will have to deal with Catalan on a daily basis. Lecturers will speak Catalan and jobs may not hire you if you do not speak it. Not only that, but Catalans will be very happy to see you trying to speak their mother tongue instead of Spanish! The sessions will start from beginners, learning the basics and slowly building up through the skills of listening, reading, speaking and writing. We will use a textbook/online course to supplement many of the language activities, but we will also learn about Catalan culture and how it relates to or is different to the rest of Spain.
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Latin - An Introduction 78
German Club 7 8 9 10
Italian for Beginners 10 11 L6
Beginners Spanish L6
Our Introduction to Latin short course will introduce you to the basic principles of Classical Latin. It provides a firm basis of pronunciation, grammar, sentence structure and vocabulary of the language. This will equip you with the basic skills to translate Latin into English. Alongside a basic vocabulary, you will learn how Classical Latin can help you better understand the English language and other romance languages such as Italian, French and Spanish. We will learn the basics of German so that we are able to conduct simple everyday activities (ordering food and drink/buying train tickets) as well as initiating and maintaining a conversation. We would also look at the history and geography of the country with a particular emphasis on reunification (3rd October), the Berlin Wall (9th November) and the Holocaust (27th January). Maybe you plan on travelling to Italy and want to have a basic chat with the locals or order food? Perhaps you have studied Spanish and/or French and want to see how you get on with another Romance language? Perhaps you plan on doing Italian at University or maybe you simply wish to add another skill to your CV/UCAS application? Whatever your reason-this introductory course will give you a grasp of the basics of the Italian language with a focus on conversational skills rather than in-depth grammar but it will also serve as a starting point for you to further your own studies if you so wish. You will be able to hold simple conversations, understand common vocabulary that is used in social and public situations and get a basic understanding of how to manipulate language to serve your personal needs. Beginners Spanish Classes are useful for available to students who haven’t had the chance to study Spanish during their time at School. These classes will cover everything from basic introductions to being able to survive a trip to Spain/Latin America. You will learn some useful phrases to help you interact with ease as well as gain some insight into the culture of Spanish- speaking people. You will also enjoy the challenge of learning how to build your own sentences through conjugating verbs and covering basic grammar. ¡Apuntate y disfrute del reto!
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COMMUNITY AND OUTREACH
Learn, Educate, Inspire, Make 10 11 L6
Community Choir 7 8 9 10 11 L6
Do you want to empower young people, increase your knowledge on various medical and psychological topics, become a confident presenter, and be involved in supporting your local community and localities wider? Joining this outreach project will see you achieve all of the above and much more. A variety of topics linked to the body both physically and mentally will be researched and put together by you and your team, to form effective and inspiring lessons, which will then be delivered by you to local primary and/or secondary schools. For example, researching about the condition SEPSIS, making a lesson based on your findings and then delivering this content to a group of young people will be one of the tasks set. This will not only increase your knowledge on important conditions but will also help support young people in our community. The Community Choir is an opportunity for all year groups to come together and sing, both within school and in the wider community. They will have opportunities to grow their vocal skills and improve their technique, learn to collaborate better whilst learning from and supporting not only their peers in other year groups, but also leadership skills from helping in performances and choral workshops with junior school children. In the Christmas term, we will prepare a varied repertoire, including of course some festive numbers, to be able to perform both at school and in the wider community; in the Spring, the choir will splinter into small groups in order to prepare for an Inter-house Singing Competition, each house working on a song with support from Mr Hazell and Senior Choir members; and to end the year, we will work on material for a Summer Choral Concert. The Community Choir will have involvement from the pre-existing Junior and Senior Choirs, and will be a wonderful opportunity to develop the choral department of the school. Repertoire will include tradition classical choral music, more modern numbers from popular culture and musical theatre, and even some a cappella arrangements that we develop ourselves.
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DIGITAL
Cipher Challenge 10 11 L6
Students will meet every Thursday to learn about codes, ciphers and cryptograms and then take part in a competition to break codes and decipher messages to solve a problem. You will start by looking at Caesar wheels, affine shift ciphers and frequency analysis and move on to more complex codes & ciphers. This competition is a great way to make use of your Mathematics and Computing skills and to build problem solving and team working skills. The club will run from September to February and the competition runs from October to January. The University of Southampton runs the National Cipher Challenge. This is a competitive programming club appropriate for strong Python coders in years 7-10. Pupils will be using their advanced Python skills, such as nested while loops to solve programming challenges for the Perse Coding Team Challenge and the HackerRank website. Participation in these activities helps prepare future Computer Science applicants for their university studies and career, reinforcing their GCSE Computer Science learning and strengthening personal statements and CVs by demonstrating coding competence and active engagement with Computer Science's programming element.
Coding, Competitions and Challenges 7 8 9 10
In preparation for the Perse Competition taking place around January 2023, pupils will practise their coding skills using past questions. Week-by-week, they will work in pairs on producing innovative, higher-quality solutions even when under difficulty and time constraints, thus developing resilience, problem-solving skills and the ability to collaborate creatively and assess theirs and their peers' code. Winning teams are rewarded with a certificate and their names will be inscribed on Perse School’s Braben Cup. Following the competition, pupils will create a HackerRank profile where they can complete coding challenges on a weekly basis outside of a competition. HackerRank's programming questions are directly inspired from software developer job interviews and completing them places pupils on an international leaderboard. Thus, pupils' programming confidence is not merely built on a personal level, but on a professional level. Academic Competition: persecoding.net/
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DEBATING
Debating Society 8 9 10 11 L6
In this society, you will develop your public speaking skills and ability to construct logical arguments. You will have the opportunity to represent BVGS in local and national competitions. In our regular meetings, we will debate a variety of contemporary issues including: governmental policies, questions of morality and ethics, and even conspiracy theories. It is a great way to develop your knowledge of current events, and also improve your confidence.
ENGINEERING
Engineering Club 10 11 L6
F1 in Schools 10 L6
Got a STEM idea that will transform people’s lives? Think big, challenge facts, ask questions and invent solutions with the UK’s top annual science and engineering competition. Join the fun! (…and develop skills along the way) - Build confidence and teamwork skills - Solve problems - Get expert feedback - Celebrate and share your work Competitors can only enter one project, either on their own or as part of a team. Pupils will have the chance to work on this project throughout the year. Their proposals will then be put forward for competition entry. Academic Competition: thebigbang.org.uk/the-big-bangcompetition/ The F1 in schools challenge sees teams from schools across the world competing to be the best. Teams are made up of groups of 6 pupils who design, engineer, race and market their racing team. Pupils will engage in a range of activities including looking for sponsorship and marketing their team, engineering a car to a detailed list of technical requirements, Project management, graphical design and will also need to write a business plan and pitch their team to a panel of judges in regional qualifications, which if successful can see them competing in national or even international competition. Academic Competition: F1 in Schools
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ENGLISH
Creative Writing Club 7 8 9 10
English Performance Poetry Club 789
Creative writing club will offer students the chance to let their imaginations run free and develop their descriptive and narrative writing skills. With a number of exciting writing competitions such as Connell Guides Short Story Competition, BBC 500 words plus many more, this club will provide students with the opportunity to enter a range of competitions and showcase their creativity. Academic Competitions: Connell Guides Short Story Competition & BBC 500 words Performance poetry club will offer students the chance to read and perform poetry in a range of styles and genres. They will also get the opportunity to write their own poems on topics that matter to them, putting together lively individual or group performances of their own work. Taking part in this club will be a great way for students to develop their confidence in playing with the power of language, both in terms of meaning and of sound. Engaging with different poetic styles and seeing the potential of poetry as a form of self-expression will also be beneficial when students study and respond to poems in lessons.
EPQ
Extended Project Qualification
Click here for full information.
L6 FOOD
Practical Cooking Skills for Life L6
Practical cooking skill for year 12 pupils, this is an opportunity to learn some essential cooking skills, learn to cook a range of dishes both sweet and savoury so that you can feed yourself when the time comes! The dishes will give you transferable cooking skills, which will enable you to cook a wide range of meals; a skill which we know will lead to a healthier lifestyle and will save you lots of money.
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HISTORY
Hidden Histories 7 8 9 10 11 L6
Big History 7 8 9 10 11
Do you want to explore the past beyond what you've learned in History lessons? We've added lots of diverse History to lessons in the last few years, but there's a lot more we don't have time to cover. Maybe you want to find out more about precolonial Africa and Asia? About the Maroon societies that formerly enslaved people created all over the Americas having escaped from slavery? Or Indian Independence and Partition? Oscar Wilde and Alan Turing and the discrimination and prejudice they faced? Maybe Ghanaian or Nigerian independence movements, or the History of Apartheid in South Africa? The Haitian Revolution? The Song Dynasty in China? More about Black Tudors? Or how women like Catherine the Great, Eleanor Aquitaine or Marie Curie rose above sexism and misogyny to achieve such great things. This is your chance to explore the events, people and places that have been marginalised from History, and to share your passion with others. This will help develop your independent research skills, improve ability to communicate your ideas and research to others, challenge stereotypes and reveal hidden stories from the past, while demonstrating your passion for History. This will also be your chance to plan and take part in organising Black History Month and LGBTQ+ History Month events in school assemblies, form activities, competitions, food stalls etc. Academic Competition There will also be a chance to enter the Historical Association's 'Write your own Historical Fiction' Competition How has the universe grown more complex? How have the early days of the universe shaped what we experience today? How do we know what we know about the past? What does it mean to be human, and how are we still evolving? What might our future – and the future of Planet Earth – look like? Big History is about asking questions that we don’t get to ask in school – often because they are difficult to think about when we look at them from a single perspective. The course is therefore about zooming out and thinking big. Designed to be as interactive as possible, there is flexibility to adapt the sessions to the interests of students. The course will start at the very beginning: the Big Bang and the origins of the universe.
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Then, moving forward through time, we will seek to piece together an understanding of how and why humans have shaped life on Planet Earth – and how they might continue to do so in the future. There will be a place to explore all kinds of approaches, ranging from cosmology and geology to anthropology and archaeology, as we connect the different stories told about our universe. But we will ultimately build to futurology: the study of how what we do now might forecast our future. If you are interested in finding out more about Big History, please visit: https://www.bighistoryproject.com/home
MATHS The Junior Problem Solving Club is a chance for students to really explore mathematical problems in detail and the different ways in which they can be approached. It will encourage mathematical reasoning, precision of thought, and fluency in using basic mathematical techniques to solve interesting problems. This is a club designed for enthusiastic year 7s and 8s. Junior Problem Solving 78
Maths and Physics Society 11 L6
This club will help students to be able to achieve high on the Junior Maths Challenge run by the UKMT (https://www.ukmt.org.uk/jmc) into which all students in years 7 and 8 are entered. The difference will be that students who come to this club will be more prepared and then potentially go on to achieve an amazing score in the Mathematical Olympiad which is taken by the top 1200 mathematicians in years 7 and 8 in the UK. Academic Competition UKMT Maths Challenge Maths and Physics Society is your chance to explore some areas of Maths, Physics and Computer Science that are outside the school curriculum. Perhaps you have always wanted to find out more about Cryptography, Fractals, Chaos Theory or Facial Recognition? Now is your chance! Each session will involve some short studentcontributed presentations on a topic of their choice. We will also spend time solving some mathematical problems and, as part of this, enter the national Ritangle competition. This should be a great opportunity for students to share their areas of interest and extend their knowledge, as well as improving their presentational and problem-solving skills.
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Strategic Planning Society 8* 9* 10 11 L6 *Year 8 and 9 students in top set Maths will also be able to participate
Pre University Admission Test L6
Strategic planning exercises provide an opportunity for students to test their ability to apply mathematical knowledge to real world scenarios. One session you might be lost in the Alps having to decide whether to take a helicopter to base camp 1 to rescue a climber with a broken leg or to hike up to the summit to help a climber with altitude sickness. The next session you will be testing your ability to carry out accurate speed, distance, time, calculations to ensure you drive a bus of tourists on a safari to safety before nightfall. For each scenario, you will work as a team to come up with the best solution and present your decision the following week. The scenarios presented are taken straight from the British Army Officer Selection process and will help build teamwork, presentation skills, and logical thinking. Are you thinking of applying to Oxbridge or another university for a subject that requires you to take MAT, STEP or TMUA? If so, then come along to these problem solving sessions and improve your skills for tackling these types of problems.
PLANTS AND THE ENVIRONMENT
Gardening and Botany Club 7 8 9 10
The Environment Society 8 9 10 L6
Students will have the opportunity to: - Learn how to grow their own food - Appreciate the importance of plants in society - Apply key concepts from GCSE Biology - Investigate the optimum growing conditions for agricultural and horticultural plants Do you have a passion for the environment? Are you committed to making positive contributions to school life? Do you have an interest in sustainability? If the answer is ‘Yes,’ then we want you to come and join the Environment Society! Our fundamental aim is to raise awareness of sustainability and environmental issues within the Vesey community, as well as reduce environmental impact both in and out of school. As a member of the Environment Society, you will have the opportunity to discuss and implement strategies and initiatives to reduce the environmental impact of our lives both in and out of school. As a team, we will be aiming for our projects to contribute to BVGS achieving environmental recognition such as Eco-Schools Green Flag Accreditation.
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POLITICS AND ECONOMICS
Politics Society 10 11 L6
Stock Market Challenge 7 8 9 10 11 L6
If you've ever seen politics in the news and wondered what on earth was going on, then this society will make you a political pro. We will cover everything from how laws are made in Parliament to where a Prime Minister claims their power from, and from who the different parties are to why some ideas succeed and others fail. You will also get an understanding as to how each and every person can participate in political activity. We will look at different ideologies and interpretations of the world, and using resources such as the Politics Project and the Political Association we can apply for opportunities to meet and interact with politicians themselves. If you want to know how the world works, and how our country is run and what you can do to participate, and if you feel passionately about an issue and what to make an impact then this is the society for you! The Stock Market Challenge is designed for teams of students to compete against each other in the world of share dealing and investing. Students will needs and develop skills in teamwork, verbal presenting, research and decision-making. - Teams will research possible investment opportunities using real sources of information and invest a virtual £100,000 in their preferred options. Options could be individual company shares, funds, bonds or cash. - Teams will present their research findings into possible investments and work to convince their team colleagues that their investment ideas are the best for their team. - Teams will have to make regular decisions about their investment portfolios, tracking their investments and work to reduce losses and maximise their profits. - The winning team will be the one that has made the most profit (or fewest losses!) over the duration of the challenge which will last the whole academic year. This option will be divided into two Groups (One for Key Stage 3 and one for Key Stages 4 & 5) Academic Competition Internal Competition or Student Investor Challenge
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QUIZZING AND STRATEGY Quizzing is great fun. The BVGS Quiz Society exists to stimulate an interest in general knowledge and quizzing of all types. We intend to instil a friendly but competitive environment for students, from across the School, where they can share their love of quizzing by competing in Inter-society quizzes and events with other Schools
Quiz Society 7 8 9 10 11 L6
General knowledge is something that really helps us to grow both on personal as well as academic level. It stretches way beyond knowing the answers to trivia questions and quizzes. Being up-to-date on current affairs and basic knowledge in a variety of subjects and can make you a more sociable and successful person. Being part of a Quiz Team provides you with a range of inter-personal skills, which will be applicable to a variety of professional and social situations; including the art of negotiation, collaboration and most significantly encourages wider reading and research in topics that fall beyond the confines of the School Curriculum. Students will have the opportunity to design and host quizzes as part of the ‘BVGS House Competition’. We also intend to host quizzes for local Primary Schools. All of these events will be planned and managed by the ‘BVGS Quiz Society’. The Society will also provide students with an opportunity to work collaboratively with students from other Year Groups Competitions The BVGS Quiz Society will enter Teams in the Junior and Senior Schools Challenge. This is national general knowledge competition for Schools in the United Kingdom. It uses the same quiz bowl rules as University Challenge. Schools Challenge is divided into Senior and Junior competitions.The School also enters a Sixth Form Team in the annual ‘Lord Mayors Mega Quiz’, hosted at the University of Birmingham.
Brainteaser Challenge 7 8 9 10
Based on MENSA questions, students work in year groups/house groups and work through series of questions. The results will contribute towards the House System, and also awards the students/groups merits. Opportunity to challenge students with logical and reasoning questions that they can work on collaboratively or independently which will build their resilience and determination.
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Sudoku Club 789
Chess Club 7 8 9 10 11 L6
This opportunity is for students who already know how to play Sudoku or those who are interested to learn how. Students will not only just solve puzzles but also be introduced to other variations of Sudoku thus developing their problem solving skills. Students will also share and discuss different methods to attempt to solve the puzzles allowing time for both individual puzzle solving as well as collaborating and sharing their thought processes with others. Chess is undoubtedly the world’s greatest game. Chess is proven to improve cognitive skills such as concentration, pattern recognition, decision-making, algebraic and geometric thinking, problem solving, spatial reasoning and critical thinking. It also increases your attention span and your memory capacity. Bishop Vesey’s Chess Club is open to players of all abilities. Whether you are an absolute beginner or an experienced player, you will be very welcome. We will provide opportunities for you to enjoy the game however you want to. We will be entering and running competitions for those who want to participate but there will be many friendlies too. “The beauty of chess is it can be whatever you want it to be. It transcends language, age, race, religion, politics, gender, and socioeconomic background. Whatever your circumstances, anyone can enjoy a good fight to the death over the chess board.” GM Simon Williams Competitions: both inter and intra School.
SCIENCE
Young Investigators 7
A great opportunity for students to develop their investigation skills in an interesting way. Things that we may look into are 1) Reducing energy bills 2) Double glazing – is it worth it? 3) How much does it cost to boil a kettle? 4) The schools energy consumption and ideas for conserving energy and saving money 5) Investigating bridge strength 6) Survival in extreme cold 7) Investigating air pressure and the huge forces it can exert, These are just a few of the many things we could investigate. Your Ideas would be very welcome and maybe we could give them a go! Hopefully you will find our activities very enjoyable and at the same time you will become expert at investigation terminology and methods which will support you in your studies at school.
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Astrophysics Club 10 11 L6
We will explore parts of astronomy and astrophysics beyond what you study in the curriculum at school. This is particularly ideal for prospective or current A-level Physics students (Y10-Y12). This will include using modern digital simulations, visits/talks in conjunction with Birmingham University, lab-based experiments (we will use telescopes weather/light permitting), and some research. Academic Competition: The club will also prepare students to enter the Junior/Senior British Astronomy Olympiad competitions - a competition in which the school has had national success recently.
Scientific Investigations 10 11
Are you interested in carrying out scientific investigations to acquire evidence to explain the world we live in? How do we know which fruits contain most vitamin C? How can we use rhubarb to explore the rate of a chemical reaction? What scientific knowledge do we need to make a sports injury cold packs and instant hot drinks? This activity will give you the opportunity to plan and carry out investigations to answer these questions. You will be using the scientific method, acquiring knowledge that has characterised the development of science since at least the 17th century. You will carry out research, construct a hypothesis, test the hypothesis through experiments, analyse your experimental data and finally draw conclusions from your work. These are vital skills for anyone considering a future in scientific research. Science Journal Club will focus on key aspects of science in the news, and scientific discovery. We will look at how Science is presented in the media, and consider how information is distilled for the public.
Science Journal Club 11 L6
Are Scientists portrayed as the bad guys? Do the public receive biased scientific information? Can we do a better job? Whilst participating in the club you can expect to do the following: Read and interpret Science Journals Consider the ethics behind presenting certain scientific discoveries Produce scientific literature suitable for a chosen audience
SPORT AND WELLNESS
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Wellbeing Group 7 8 9 10 11 L6
Golf - An Introduction 78
Running Club 7 8 9 10 11 L6
Tennis Club 7 8 9 10 11
Learn about mental health and how you can manage anxiety and stress; learn how to feel good about yourself and undertake some mindfulness activities you can take with you through life. These will include the following but it is not an exhaustive list: how to stop overthinking, simple cognitive behaviour techniques and relaxation exercises. Have you played all the “usual” sports but found they don’t suit your eye? Do you enjoy physical activity and challenge? Why not give golf a go! We are offering the first stage of learning the game of golf, Tri-Golf. Tri-Golf is a fun and energetic version of golf that is perfect for young aspiring golfers as they hit targets with their first golf shots. Tri-Golf is a genuinely inclusive sport as it suits players of all abilities; but it is particularly great starting point for those new to the game. In the sessions you will learn the fundamentals of golf. How to swing a club, how to putt whilst at the same time playing a series of fun practice games both as individuals and in teams. If you have never played golf before but are curious to give it a try, this is perfect for you! Who knows, this could be your first steps into becoming a Tour professional? The course will cover warming up, healthy eating, suitable kit, personal aims and objectives and safety talk. Initial fitness will be assessed on site (hill sprints, bleep test, etc.) to support realistic aims and objectives. Subsequently, the main activity will be based about a run in Sutton Park with two routes of differing length to support runners of varying ability. Our aim will be to encourage increased participation in the Great Midlands Fun Run in June 2023. Tennis club will be an opportunity for students who have some (but not necessarily lots of) experience of playing tennis. It is for any students in KS3 (Year 7, 8 and 9) and potentially KS4 (Year 10 & 11) depending on numbers. It will allow for an opportunity to play some doubles tennis and also some other games/training on the tennis courts that develop the skills required to play the game. The school can provide racquets and balls but if you have your own equipment, you are welcome to bring it. We will try to keep numbers to a maximum of 16 per session to ensure that everybody can be involved for the full hour. If you are a fan of tennis and want to play with and against your peers to improve your skills and technique this may well be the club for you. It can supplement any tennis sessions that you have in Games lessons in School.
BISHOP VESEY'S GRAMMAR SCHOOL | CO-CURRICULAR BOOK
Vesey Fit Camp L6
This option allows you to participate in a boot camp tailored to improving your fitness, or just for those who want to have some fun and get moving. We will be incorporating basic movements, and as the course progresses you will be introduced to a range of exercises: adding some equipment to help boost your confidence and overall fitness levels. Don’t worry you can work to your current levels and I will tailor the weeks to your individual needs as and when it is needed. Come and get involved and get your fitness kick ticked off for the week, and help to improve not only your physical health, but boost your overall energy levels, and have some fun with your peers.
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If you have any questions regarding any aspect of the Co-Curricular provision, please email d.goodwin@bishopvesys.bham.sch.uk
BISHOP VESEY'S GRAMMAR SCHOOL | CO-CURRICULAR BOOK
What is EPQ? The Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) is a Level 3 Advanced qualification, which is highly regarded by many universities. It is an independent research project completed during Y12. The choice of topic is entirely up to you: it can be an extension of your A Level studies or an area of personal interest outside your studies. For example, if you study A Level Biology you may wish to extend the genetics module by looking into the religious impact of screening for genetic diseases. If you study A Level Economics, you might develop your knowledge of microeconomics by exploring how financial developments in football have altered the game during the 20th century. Alternatively, if you are passionate about ethical treatment of animals and are interested in a career as a vet, you might examine the impact of zoos on animal conservation. If you are a keen environmentalist, you might research the effects of fracking on pollution. With appropriate supervision, you will: § choose an area of interest; § draft a title and aims of your project for formal approval by school; § plan, research and carry out your project; § deliver a presentation to your peers; § provide evidence of all stages of project development and production. Why choose EPQ? The skills you develop whilst undertaking EPQ not only help improve your A Level performance but increase your confidence in terms of future study and career development. You will: § develop and apply decision-making skills, problem-solving skills, initiative and enterprise; § extend your planning, research, critical-thinking, analytical, synthesis, evaluation and presentation skills; § improve time management, notetaking, academic writing and referencing skills. Many universities value EPQ highly and include it in their UCAS offers (it carries UCAS points equivalent to half an A Level). You can refer to EPQ in your UCAS personal statement and at interview to demonstrate some of the qualities that universities are looking for.
The University of Southampton believes project qualifications such as the EPQ offer an "unparalleled introduction to the skills needed for students to thrive in Higher Education”. (University of Southampton) “Working on an EPQ encourages students to develop research and academic skills relevant to undergraduate study”. (University of Oxford)
BISHOP VESEY'S GRAMMAR SCHOOL | CO-CURRICULAR BOOK
How is EPQ delivered? EPQ is an independent research project, which should take approximately 120 hours to complete. Within these hours, you will take part in a programme of Taught Skills, which will help equip you with the skills you need to complete the project, such as research methods, academic writing and referencing. You will also have timetabled lessons which take place in the ‘Co-Curricular’ slot, with an EPQ Supervisor who will help guide you through the process. The bulk of the work will be done independently. What will I need to produce? The three P’s of EPQ are the Product, the Presentation and the Production Log. Product: you will either write a 5000 word research report OR create an artefact (together with a shorter written research report). Presentation: you will design and deliver a presentation to a non-specialised audience (EPQ peers and your supervisor). Production Log: you will complete a diary-style Production Log which provides evidence of your EPQ journey. We use an internet based system called Project Q to complete this. What kind of thing do students choose to research? Titles of previous written research reports include: § How has politics influenced football in Spain in the 20th Century? § Should the number of cycles of IVF currently offered by the NHS be standardised nationally? § Has elite sport in South Africa had a significant impact in integrating polarised societies following the 1995 Rugby World Cup? § Did selfishness in Wall Street cause the 2008 recession? § To what extent is sleep deprivation a risk factor of dementia? § How can technology be used to improve water supply for those living without access to clean water? Titles of previous artefact projects include: § A poem for children in the style of Dr Seuss § A book of recipes for university students § Create a remotely-controlled Bluetooth camera for less than £50 § How to raise £1000 for a local charity § A modern day retelling of Shakespeare’s “The Winter’s Tale”
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