2024 Enrichment activities

Ukejam

Dungeons & Dragons

Debate Club Yoga

Art Seminars Life Skills

Sign Language Charity & Fundraising

MoodMaster Health & Fitness Book Club

The student experience at Ashton Sixth Form College extends far beyond the classroom. You could learn a new skill, try something different and simply have fun, alongside like-minded people.

Whilst advancing academically at college, Ashton Explore is a great way to develop personally, enhance your applications to university, apprenticeships or employment, and even gain an additional qualification!

Societies

Skills

Join a society and meet new people who have a shared interest! There are lots of activities and clubs that run weekly for students to get involved in.

Whilst meeting new people, you could also develop a specific skill on a recognised course, such as First Aid, British Sign Language and more!

Academic

Health & Fitness

There are a range of Ashton Explore activities that relate directly to the subjects you study. You can enhance your knowledge and skills through these extra-curricular opportunities.

With our sport activities you can either play competitively and represent the College in regional tournaments, or just join for fun and wellbeing.

Politics Debate Club Tuesdays & Thursday 13:00 - 13:30 MB3.7 30/01/2024 - 23/05/2024 Build your debating skills and confidence at Politics Debate Club. We will debate a variety of topics such as abortion, the abolition of the monarchy and current controversial issues in the news. You will be split into two groups for each side of the argument and participate in House of Commonsstyle debates with a Speaker to keep order!

Warhammer Thursday 16:00 - 17:00 C2.2 01/02/2024 - 24/06/2024 In its 33-year history, Warhammer, the game of fantasy battles has provided a gateway into gaming for generations of players, and it remains one of the most recognisable franchises in the board game industry. Warhammer is a table top battle game which puts players in command of armies of valiant humans, noble elves, savage orcs or a variety of twisted and monstrous creatures. Unlike a traditional board game, where players’ moves are restricted to defined areas, Warhammer commander pieces freely manoeuvre their units set distances using rulers and resolve shooting and hand-to-hand combat by rolling dice. If you are interested, come and join our Warhammer community. All equipment is provided.

Charity & Fundraising Thursday 16:00 - 17:00 IT1.2b 01/02/2024 - 11/07/2024 Are you passionate about helping other people? Charity & Fundraising society will be planning themed events to fundraise throughout the year. You’ll develop valuable skills whilst helping some great causes which are chosen by the society.

History Society Thursday 12:50 - 13:40 MB3.2 08/02/2024 - 27/05/2024 The publication of a History Society Journal which will be made up of student written articles on subjects of their choice, allowing a broad research of different topics and the development of skills which are critical for all undergraduate courses.It will be a fantastic way to develop skills prior to the completion of UCAS applications and also to fully immerse yourself into enrichment, meeting new people and having some fun!

Book Club Thursday 12:50 - 14:45 MB2.9 01/02/2024 - 29/03/2024 This is a continued monthly enrichment session.

Do you love books? Are you often looking for people to discuss literature with? Lots of people love to read, but it can be hard to find someone to discuss the book you're reading — especially if you love an uncommon genre. If you're having a hard time finding people to talk with about your reading material, you might want to consider joining our book club. This is a great opportunity to meet new people and make new friends with common interests.

Dungeons & Dragons Thursday 16:00 - 17:15 C2.2 01/02/2024 - 24/06/2024 In Dungeons & Dragons, players create characters to join an adventuring party who explore fantasy worlds together as they embark on epic quests and level up in experience. The Dungeon Master is the game's referee and storyteller. There’s no winning or losing in D&D—at least, not in the conventional way. Dungeons & Dragons at its heart, it is a game that focuses on storytelling.

Everything is your decision, from what you look like, to how you act, to what happens next. The collective creativity in your D&D game builds stories that you’ll tell again and again ranging from the stuff of legend to absurd incidents that’ll make you laugh years later. Do you have a creative and open imagination? If the answer is yes, come and join our community!

Studio Photography Tuesday 13:10 - 13:40 AD2.1 30/01/2024 - 27/02/2024 This is a 4 week enrichment block where you will explore different types of studio lighting. We will look at 1 style of lighting each week and you will get the chance to try a few shots in each style.

Whether you already study photography or just have an interest in the topic and maybe want to develop a personal hobbie, get involved and learn a new skill.

Intra college futsal Tuesday 12:00 - 13:00 Sports Hall 30/01/2024 Futsal is a football-based game played on a hardcourt like a basketball court, smaller than a football pitch, and mainly indoors. It has similarities to five-a-side football and indoor football. Futsal is played between two teams of five players each, one of whom is the goalkeeper.

Futsal comp to decide which team will represent the college in the Inter College AOC Tournament.

Art Seminars Monday 13:00 - 13:40 AD1.1 29/01/2024 - 08/07/2024 This is a continued weekly enrichment session.

Art Seminars are a great way to learn more about the wider art world; each week we will talk about a different topic. Seminars are a chance to listen to information, but also to get involved in discussion. Art Foundation and A2 students will also run some of the sessions, giving you a chance to hear about the topics they find interesting and links to their own practice. Bring your lunch along to the Fine Art room, and get stuck in!

Earth Sciences Thursday 16:00 - 17:00 ST1.2 01/02/2024 - 07/03/2024 We will explore concepts in earth science such as climate change, mass extinctions, fossils, volcanoes and more!

‘Shut Up and Write’ Wednesdays and Thursdays 16:00 - 17:00 IT1.2d 31/01/2023 - 28/03/2024 Ideal for students completing aspects of coursework on their A level studies or EPQ. These sessions are designed for using a space and time for writing away from distractions. Making use of academic writing techniques such as 'Shut up and Write' and the 'Pomodoro Technique' to help you achieve the best of you!

Tried and tested by A2 students completing their EPQ!

MoodMaster Monday/Thursday (TBC) 16:00 - 17:00 Meeting rooms by main reception 05/02/2024 - 22/03/2024 MoodMaster is an upbeat approach to physical and emotional well-being. It will consist of a series of workshops focusing on anxiety, stress and worry; sessions may include: understanding your emotions, sleep, problem solving, diet, eating well, resolving conflict and gaining support, how to stop worrying, exercise, breathing and relaxation. MoodMaster can help with raising awareness of mental illness, increasing confidence to deal with mental wellbeing and reducing stigma around mental health.

Writers’ Hub Tuesday 12:30 - 13:30 MB2.6 29/01/2024 - 22/06/2024 Are you a novelist, poet, playwright, journalist, blogger, lyricist, rapper? Do you enjoy writing for pleasure?

Do you want to meet other writers and share your ideas and writing? Come along to ASFC Writers’ Hub. A safe space to work on your ideas, read your writing aloud, or share tips and thoughts on writing. Writing is typically a solo endeavour, but finding a community of writers that support one another can be a great source of inspiration and encouragement. Writer's hub can offer a supportive environment of like-minded people who share a passion for writing. Benefits include: getting valuable feedback, receiving encouragement from other members, get help with writing projects and refining your writing process.

Over Watch e-Sports League Wednesdays 15:50 - 17:00 IT2.1 SIGN UP CLOSED The British Esports Student Champs are a series of exciting competitive video gaming tournaments for students aged 12+ in schools and colleges across the UK. The Champs are open to all secondary schools, Further Education (FE) Colleges and Alternative Provision (AP) schools in the UK, and are PCbased. Ashton Sixth Form College will be entering a team in the Over Watch League. Each game will be a 5v5 battle.

Therefore, the maximum amount of student has to be 12 so that we have a selection of players but everyone has a chance of playing. Trials will be held at the beginning of term to pick a squad of 12. Esports is a beneficial in promoting character development, leadership skills, thinking and communication skills.

Sign Language l Tuesday 16:00 - 17:00 MB2.5 30/01/2023 - 12/03/2024 These sessions will introduce you to British Sign Language and D/deaf culture. It will help you to develop your communication skills and will you allow you to learn a new language. You will gain: Communication skills, disability awareness, language acquisition skills and the understanding of different cultures. Our students that have just taken part in this course all left with a certificate, the ability to hold full conversations in sign and the confidence in the basics of BSL. Learning a sign language is a hugely rewarding string to add to your bow and allows you to make a connection with a group of people that are still marginalised in society. But on top of that, learning British Sign Language (BSL) or one of the other hundreds of varieties can lead to all sorts of job opportunities that you may never have considered.

Just 5 examples of careers that learning BSL could lead to: - Special Education teacher - Sign Language Teacher - Interpreter - Health Care professional - Tourism

Building & Repairing Computers Thursday 16:00 - 17:15 IT2.7 01/02/2024- 28/03/2024 This a short course for students wishing to gain practical skills in understanding the hardware behind a computer system. Utilizing our DTM workshop, you will have the opportunity to dismantle a computer into individual components and learn about what they do within our dedicated college computer workshop. You will then build the computer again and test that it works, by installing an operating system. The aim of the course is to gain confidence working inside a computer and to put you in the position to repair your own computers.

The process of building a gaming computer will teach you valuable life skills and lessons that can’t be duplicated from other hobbies.

Benefits include: help you with problem solving skills, teaches you patience, helps you follow directions, helps you understand computer technology, boosts your self confidence, spark an interest in technology: could be the catalyst that launches their career in the technology industry, teaches you responsibility.

Life Drawing Thursday 16:30 - 18:00 AD1.3 SIGN UP CLOSED Regular drawing classes to enable you to learn drawing processes that will improve your work and observational skills. Please be aware that these sessions will involve nude models, and therefore discretion and maturity is required and expected. All students wishing to improve their skills are welcome. You don't need to bring any materials (although you are welcome to bring your own sketchbooks).

Even if you don’t have an affinity to draw or paint the figure, you can benefit from figure drawing. It's largely about training your eye. Just as a musician, dancer or athlete must practice and train to maintain a level of excellence, drawing the figure from life on a regular basis keeps an artist in good form. It is about interpretation of the human form in its various shapes and postures, offering foundational skills in observation and empathy. Inspired by professional life models, guided practice sessions help you draw with greater confidence and ease by building both perceptual and technical skills.

Wednesday 28th February 9-4pm Friday 1st March 9-4pm

To sign up for your chosen course or club, scan here: Sign up goes live Monday 22nd January

Megan Sykes Enrichment & Opportunities Officer megan.sykes@asfc.ac.uk MB1.32

@ashtonexplore