School Enrichment Activities

[QueenoftheSarf]

My DS's secondary school has just become an academy and is holding lots of parent consultations to seek advice on how they would like to see the school improved.

One of the big hot topics seems to be enrichment activities - i.e what children do in addition to the usual day to day curriculum stuff in terms of activities such as inter school competitions, other things to get involved in of an educational nature to enrich their learning experience, trips/visits etc.

What do they do at your DC's schools that you think is especially good?

DS1 has done: sailing, debating, woodwork, trip to Hastings.

DS2 has done: choir, wind band, Maths workshop, trip to Cutty Sark & Royal Observatory.

A selection from DS' school (state comp). All in mixed year 7-9 ages.

Chess
Computer programming
Car Mechanics
Photography
Cryptography
Battle Re-enactment
Glee Club
Volunteer Readers at adjacent primary
Public speaking
Politics
Touch Typing
Knitting
Jamming
Building an AutomatonToy
Movies & Morals

Plus sports etc and loads more

These are lunch hour events. I realise actually not what you were asking, but hopefully of interest still.

In addition to the usual sporting stuff, DD did cookery and photography. Both of which she thoroughly enjoyed.

They also do some sort of business project in the Sixth Form (thinking of, creating and marketing a product?), which she is looking forward to next year.

In year 7, they invite local year 6's to the school to see the year 7 play. I know this is primarily a marketing exercise from the school, but the children enjoy meeting up with children from their old schools, and showing off their new.

Year 7's also have a grandparents' tea party, in which they have afternoon tea and get to show their grandparents round the school. My DD loved this!

They have local MPs, and opposition, come and speak to the Sixth Form.

Battle re-enactment is a fab idea, Lomaamina.

Grandparents tea sounds brilliant! one of DS' mates had his grandad help out at chess club, which really went down well.

I forgot:
wildlife garden
Local history (another one getting them engaged with local community and local museum)
Yes they also do designing a product and it being judged Dragons Den style, then sold at the local weekly market