Dedicated students rise to Enrichment challenge

The King’s Enrichment programme has been designed to enhance the Sixth Form curriculum, offering valuable opportunities to learn new skills, get involved in the local community and be creative. 

The programme is split into three strands – Skills, Service and Creative. Sixth Formers choose one activity from each strand during each year of their studies, ensuring that they follow a balanced programme throughout their two year course.

The first cycle of the new programme has just ended and one of the outstanding successes has been the primary school programme, which forms part of the Service strand. Head of Enrichment, Mr Bircham, has been impressed with how the students have approached the opportunity. 

He said: “Students have completed placements in a number of local primary schools this term, mainly to support class teachers with pupils’ reading, numeracy and sporting activities. We have had some brilliant feedback from the schools and it is clear that our students have not only enjoyed the experience, but also benefitted hugely from it.”

Headteacher of Upton Westlea Primary School, Mrs Carruthers, also praised the Sixth Formers and presented them each with a box of chocolates to say thank you for the work they done this term, and the Lache Primary School tweeted earlier this term that the children’s faces light up every time the King’s students arrive. 

Also in the Service strand, the Biodiversity and Conservation group have presented their sustainability plans to the Headmaster and our Facilities team. There are plans for a quiet outdoor learning space with a wildflower garden and we are looking to seeing this progress as the seasons change later in the academic year.

In the Creative strand, there was Dragon’s Den success for the team behind the BONDA, a motion-sensor device designed to remind you what you need for the day as you leave the house. Another popular creative activity this term was Textile Art which encouraged students to explore their creativity using a variety of media. They even learned to draw with a sewing machine!

In the Skills strand,  Young Leaders have been developing their coaching and leadership skills by working with Junior School pupils in their PE lessons, and students have been learning valuable life-saving skills as they study for their Lifeguard Qualification.

Finn Mcnamee (L6GLA) is one of the students on the lifeguarding course: “I have learnt many new skills, including CPR and I’ll receive the NLPQ lifeguarding qualification at the end of this year, which will be very helpful in the future.” 

The next cycle of activities will begin on 10 December and students are already looking forward to taking on the next challenge.