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 Mary’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 took part in an ‘Industry Day’. They had a varied day learning about the local labour market alongside basic first aid skills. In the Drama Studio, pupils learnt how to put an unconscious patient in the recovery position as well as deliver basic CPR. A colleague from the DWP also took the pupils on holiday, where they learnt all about the jobs that involved the DWP, from leaving your house to the return journey! Eric Wright construction also helped pupils to develop their civil engineering skills by constructing huge tetrahedrons outside their English classroom, the pupils also learnt about the wide variety of roles within the construction and engineering industry. Our teachers led a session about the Eden Project which will be opening in Morecambe, pupils worked in teams to create an opening night event, with a focus on budgeting and the roles and responsibilities of those who work within the travel and tourism industry. Lastly pupils had a session learning and investigating all of the different jobs and areas of employment that are available within their local area of Lancashire.
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. At Albert Dock, pupils carried out an environmental quality survey and a pedestrian count, assessing the quality of the urban environment and investigating patterns of pedestrian movement in this popular waterfront area. These activities helped pupils understand how different areas of the city are used and how they 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 physics 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.
