TRANSFORMING LIVES PRIMARY

Each of our primaries offers a wide selection of opportunities outside of the classroom. Our children have access to sport, music, dance, chess, gardening, and art clubs. We also run three Forest Schools and children regularly tell us that this is their favourite activity.

Developing children’s strengths and interests in an important part of our curriculum offer. As well as our extensive extra curriculum offer, we also have a programme of student leadership in each of our schools. Our student councils and ambassadors have a wide range of responsibilities and influence the way we do things. One of the most memorable moments was when a group of School Councillors from Ravensworth Primary spoke at the E21C All Staff Conference last October. They spoke passionately and authoritatively on the need for all of us to behave more sustainably.

We are always looking for new opportunities to expand our offer, particularly if that request comes from the children. Recently they asked for more trips, particularly residential ones. So, this year we have expanded our residential trip offer to include a trip to Wick Court Farm in Gloucestershire for Year 5 pupils. This is run by the charity Farms for City Children, set up by author Michael Murpurgo and his wife. The pupils will be staying on a working farm for a week, getting hands on experience with animal husbandry, gardening, bee-keeping and much more!

Secondary

Secondary schools have offered a wide range of extracurricular activities. We have clubs, trips and events that span young people’s interest, character and academic development. The offer across the breadths of schools has included horse riding, Duke of Edinburgh bronze, silver and gold awards, fixture led sport teams, debate clubs, spelling bees, school shows, and the experiences continue. Accreditation and certification of the extra-curricular offer takes place as appropriate. We are ambitious for our learners and our character development strives to ensure our trust wide values of trust, kindness and endeavour is intentionally built through our shared curriculum.

We run a spiral curriculum in PSHE/RSE across all year groups, whether through discreet lessons, tutor times, assemblies or drop down days. This is a diverse programme, covering many topic areas and where appropriate guest speakers are invited in. We consider how we develop aspiration and character for all as well as building knowledge about the world that we live in today, so that pupils can navigate it successfully with broad and balanced viewpoints on current affairs topics and be the best in their chosen career.