Elective Programme and Enrichment Opportunities
We aim to equip all of our students for life after school, and that requires more than good A Level results. We provide a programme of ‘enrichment’ and opportunities for every student to get involved with in order to develop complementary skills alongside their A-level subjects.
Elective Programme
In Year 12, students have allocated curriculum time dedicated to an elective programme; through which every student chooses one course to pursue alongside their A-levels. Students will have the opportunity to choose from a range of courses to suit their interests.
Our current programme (2022-23) offers:
- Architecture
- Arts Award
- Arts and the Renaissance
- Coding
- Critical Thinking Dissection
- Extended Project Qualification (EPQ)
- Photography
- Sports Leaders Award
- The World of the Renaissance
- Young Enterprise
Volunteering
Community service is a significant part of our Enrichment programme and takes various forms. Students in Year 13 have the opportunity to volunteer in the local community one afternoon a fortnight. Currently, we have student volunteers in local nursing homes, charity shops and primary schools.
“Overall I really loved the experience at the local primary school, and it was very fulfilling to feel as if I had in some way contributed to the amazing work the school does.”
Other Opportunities
Our Sixth Form students can get involved in a range of other opportunities within the school, including:
Clubs and Societies
In addition to the enrichment opportunities outlined above, sixth form students are encouraged to attend, run and promote clubs and societies across the school. If a society doesn’t exist, we will actively support you to set one up. Examples of clubs and societies available to students include:
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Individuals may also be approached by Heads of Department and asked if they would be willing to act as subject mentors for students lower down the school
Subject Visits and Trips
Our sixth form subject areas provide interesting and enriching day and residential trips which serve to enhance and support the rich learning that takes place within the classroom.
Geography
Year 12s visiting Flatford Mill Field Studies Centre in Suffolk. 
Whilst at the centre they completed coastal fieldwork and fieldwork based around urban areas and changing places.
The time at the centre will gave the students a starting point for their own investigations and data collection.
Other academic trips are available in Year 13, such as the Hazards Conference organised by the publisher Hodder Education.
The Hazards Conference is designed to provide essential subject support through a series of lectures conducted by top academics such as Dr. Martin Degg and Professor Iain Stewart (of the BBC’s Power of the Earth).
History
History students visiting the National Archives in Kew.
The National Archives is the official archive and publisher of all government documents and our visit gave us the opportunity to see and evaluate primary evidence first hand.
We were allowed to examine and touch (with gloves!) documents that had been written during the reign of the Tudor monarchs, using them to gain a better understanding of the events that took place during the sixteenth century, as well as giving us a valuable insight into the mind-set of those individuals who had written them. One such document that we were able to look at was a handwritten letter from Elizabeth to her sister, Queen Mary I in which she was pleading for her life. By seeing this evidence first hand we were able to gain an insight into the fear that Elizabeth felt at the time and even her determination to ensure that her letter was not altered to by adding a red line through it.
Though the aim of the visit was to aid our understanding of the Tudors, we were able to examine sixteenth century sources relating to Nonsuch which allowed us to see how the local area has developed over time. At the end of the day we were also fortunate enough to hear from the historian Tracey Borman who gave a lecture on the life and influence of Thomas Cromwell. The visit to the National Archives helped not just to solidify our understanding of the Tudors but also helped to bring the subject matter to life, allowing us to see into the minds and thoughts of the characters we have been studying from afar.
Siobhain McDonagh's visit
Siobhain McDonagh’s talk provided us with an insight into the process of becoming an MP and the commitment required to fulfil the role. She took questions that ranged from grievances local to her constituency to pressing issues in the news such as Brexit. When asked about all-female shortlists the discussion moved onto feminism, linking nicely with what we study in class. Siobhain shared her opinion on what measures need to be taken to reach adequate levels of female representation in Parliament and her perspective of how far the movement has come in her time working in politics.
Drama - A-level Students Explore Greece: Where Theatre Began!
A-level Drama students had the opportunity of a lifetime – to take part in a workshop based Drama trip to Greece, the country where theatre began!
Each morning, students took part in specialised theatre workshops lead by a professional practitioner in which they focused on Greek Choral techniques. Each afternoon, students had the opportunity to explore the theatrical sites of Athens, Corinth and Epidaurus.
Students were awe struck at one of the largest and earliest Greek theatres still standing when we toured Epidaurus and even had the opportunity to try out how the echo effect of these ancient theatres worked.
In Athens, they visited the Acropolis, focusing on the Theatre of Dionysus; this is largely regarded as one of the first theatres ever. As students study the Greek classics, specifically Sophocles’ Antigone this experience will aid them in their exam work and in their performances.
As this was a truly memorable trip we are already looking where we can go next!