Extended Learning Day 1
On Wednesday 22 October, all pupils in school participated in our first Extended Learning Day of the academic year.
Year 7 took part in activities led by RE, Chaplaincy, Food Technology and Music on the theme of “Hallowtide”. During the day all pupils had the opportunity to travel to St Joseph’s church and have a tour looking at the significant features of the architecture as well as examples of vestments and vessels used at mass. Pupils also had a session with the chaplaincy team looking at how to become a saint and introducing pupils to the Faith in Action Award. Following this, all pupils went to music and had an experience of singing Gregorian chant and mass parts. Finally, pupils went to food technology to make soul cakes, and learned about their meaning and symbolism as part of traditions for All Saints and All Souls feast days.
Year 8 had a varied ‘Industry Day’ with workshops aimed at building teamwork, problem solving, and learning about our Local Labour Market. We had workshops delivered by four external providers, each giving an insight into the future pathways our pupils could tread. Newman College delivered a session on post-16 pathways which gave our pupils a sneak peek into college life, while a colleague from the DWP showed them all the different jobs available within local and national government and how they protect and support our local areas, Future U informed our pupils about jobs in the healthcare sector, which is particularly relevant as the NHS is one of the largest employers within our local area. This was partly delivered via a boardgame which the pupils enjoyed and engaged well with. Our school careers advisor Mrs Gul also led a session where our pupils discovered all the different employers and job opportunities that we have in our local area including apprenticeship providers. Finally, pupils took part in a team building exercise where they had to stick to a budget to build the tallest balloon tower, and lots of fun and good healthy competition was observed. Teachers and external visitors alike commented on how engaged and polite our pupils were throughout the day.
As part of their geography studies on land use in UK cities, Year 9 pupils visited Liverpool to carry out fieldwork supporting their classroom learning. Pupils carried out an environmental quality survey and a pedestrian count to investigate patterns of urban land use and how different areas of the city serve a variety of functions. To deepen their understanding of how cities evolve, pupils also visited the Museum of Liverpool, where they explored how the city has transformed over time – from its industrial past to its modern regeneration. The trip provided valuable real-world insights into urban geography and helped bring the topic to life.
Year 10 explored the wide-ranging topic of Digital Literacy, focusing on the ‘Four C’s’ – Content, Commerce, Conduct and Contact. These included sessions focused on what is posted online , the risks from actions involving money, behaving in an appropriate manner online and the risks which young people may face when interacting with others online. The day culminated in a debate about which of the four C’s are most relevant to their year group and why, and which topic should be taught to younger pupils.
Finally, Year 11 pupils dedicated the day to deepening their understanding of science. They focused on the required practical experiments, exploring rates of reaction in chemistry and the relationship between force and acceleration in physics. After completing two practical sessions, pupils tackled a series of extension questions designed to strengthen their grasp of the experiments. To conclude the day, they applied their learning by completing a chemistry exam paper, putting their practical and theoretical skills to the test.
Thank you to all staff and visitors for their hard work and support in ensuring our pupils enjoy these broader experiences, and to all pupils for their commitment and enthusiasm.
