The sun was shining and over 1500 students had a great day taking part in activities that had a curriculum focus but extended beyond their normal classroom learning. 

Year 7: Frylands Wood Outdoor Scout Centre 

Half of the year group took part in team building and resilience activities for PSHE, at Frylands Wood outdoor scout centre. Students showed great teamwork during barrel cart building, orienteering and blindfold trails, they also demonstrated resilience whilst climbing to great heights, practicing their archery skills and channelling their inner Viking during tomahawk throwing. The day was full of adrenaline-filled fun in the great outdoors.

Hampton Court

The trip to Hampton Court was a great success with students able to see the site of Henry VIII’s power and answer the question: ‘Was Hampton Court Palace a palace ofpleasure or power?’  The fantastic weather also gave students the opportunity to explore the wonderful gardens and enjoy a picnic. All in all, the day was an enjoyable and educational day out for half of our Year 7s.

Year 8: Science Museum

Students were tasked with completing a treasure hunt-style activity which directed them around the vast museum. The task allowed students to explore our science curriculum in greater depth and provided experiences within science that are not achievable in a normal teaching laboratory. Additionally, students were able to find out more about the fields of technology and engineering. These disciplines are not specifically covered within the KS3 curriculum but are nonetheless important as we aim to open students minds to the diverse academic and professional possibilities that may await them once they leave school. 

Neasden Temple

Students attended the magnificent Hindu Mandir in Neasden, North London, and were taken on a tour of the grounds by a brilliant volunteer guide. Students learnt about the history of the Mandir, discovered some of the traditions of the regular devotees and explored the many different prayer halls and meeting spaces. Students were able to visit an interactive exhibition that brings to life the rich history of Hinduism, and were able to observe an ‘arti ceremony’ which is a daily, sacred prayer ceremony where worshippers gather to receive blessing from the various statues of God housed within the Mandir. This trip enabled students to reflect on their classroom learning in Hinduism, it helped bring to life some of the practices mentioned in lesson and created a deeper understanding into the daily lives of Hindu worshippers in London. 

Year 9: Bognor and Worthing Beaches

Our Year 9 students had a fantastic time conducting their geography fieldwork at Worthing and Bognor beaches. With clipboards in hand and the sea breeze in the air, they completed bi-polar surveys to assess coastal management strategies, created detailed field sketches to capture key features of the landscape, and carried out clone town surveys to investigate the character of the local high streets. It was a great opportunity for students to apply their classroom learning in a real-world setting while enjoying the coastal environment.

London Eye and River Cruise

Last week, five Year 9 groups embarked on a fantastic trip to London, where they experienced the iconic London- Eye and enjoyed a fun river cruise along the Thames. The MFL department truly brought Spanish to life, engaging students with fun and exciting activities throughout the trip. From conversational challenges to interactive tasks, the activities were closely linked to the curriculum, giving our students an incredible opportunity to apply what they have learned in class to real life situations. 

A bonus highlight was the sunny weather, reminiscent of Spain itself, with temperature and atmosphere so vibrant that many students remarked it felt as though they had travelled to Spain. Especially with Spanish tourists adding to the authenticity. It was a memorable day filled with learning, fun and cultural immersion.

Year 11 and 13 

The ‘Retro and Inflatable Sports Day’ gave our students the chance to flex their competitive muscles and take on the challenge of the inflatables! It gave them an opportunity to take part in team building activities, developing collaboration, communication and leadership skills. 

Students also had a really insightful session from InnerDrive about what strategies we can use to help perform under pressure.  Hopefully the tips they gained can help them to be successful in the upcoming public exams.

Year 12: Recruitment day

Our Year 12 students experienced the highs and lows of applying to the world of work. Prior to the interview day, students  completed a job application, took part in an enterprise challenge presentation and a group assessment centre task. On the day, every student took part in oracy workshops with Talk the Talk to help build their communication skills ready for their one-to-one interview with employers such as such as Bowmer and Kirkland, Trafalgar House, Pell Frishmann, SES Water, Greenergy and Allianz for our Year 12 recruitment day.

Ms Webb, Assistant Headteacher

You can see all the photos for each year group in the latest newsletters. Click here.