Enrichment

As part of the David Ross Education Trust we are fortunate to be able to call upon a wide range of partners to enrich the experiences we offer our students.

As a David Ross Education Trust (DRET) academy we believe that enrichment can help to enhance performance and teach life skills that will equip our students for an ever-changing world.

At King Edward VI we provide students with a wide range of enrichment activities, which support students’ personal growth, and give opportunities to try new and varied activities that develop character, resilience and motivate students to broaden their horizons.

With the launch of our House system, we have added a vast number of house competitions to our enrichment and co-curricular offer. The competitions are exciting and varied. There are quizzes, sport, theatre fun and community competitions. There are 40 competitions scheduled. Our house assemblies focus on promoting these competitions and driving the excitement. Our competitions range from limbo to university challenge and are designed to ensure all students have the opportunity to take part in something and represent their house. This encourages students to work together for the good of the house and in many occasions the local community. Our Autumn harvest festival benefitted our local community food bank and indeed extended links for our school for example.

We have a full range of sporting enrichment, not only to support the excellence that our students demonstrate but also for participation and enjoyment as well as the health benefits that sport brings. It is our goal that students leave KEVI having found some activity they can take into adulthood enabling them to lead a healthy lifestyle. Our PE department endeavour to ensure that the activities they offer are inclusive for all groups within the academy. We have Boccia clubs to support our SEND students culminating in competition at the DRET summer cup, where we had 2 teams competing, we have non gender specific sports clubs at lunchtimes and attempt to alleviate any barriers to participation.

We also cater for those with a musical taste, offering choirs and bands, drumming and brass band. Each student is offered the opportunity to learn a musical instrument or to sing as an enrichment activity without charge. Developing these skills brings an increase in academic achievement, improved social skills, improved mental health, self-confidence, patience, creativity and often increased memory capacity.

At KEVI we also invite specialist speakers to give our students expert guidance in certain areas of the curriculum. We have stay safe days that focus on such areas as drug education, staying safe on the roads or internet and basic first aid. We also invite experts to support delivery of our RSE programme, bringing expert knowledge and resources to support the learning for our students.

There are other clubs and societies that are open to our students with a focus on enjoyment but that all have a focus on a particular learning outcome. The Dungeons and Dragons club operates twice a week; this is not only fun and enjoyable for students but improves numeracy and literacy, social skills, supports with public speaking and encourages creativity.

Being part of the David Ross Education Trust DRET affords us even more enrichment opportunities than a stand-alone academy could offer. The Trust has partnerships with a number of organisations that work with us to provide opportunities in music, drama, art,sport and other cultural pursuits.

Here are just some of the incredible enrichment opportunities we have experienced:

Masterclasses with Olympians and other top sports stars including Colin Jackson, Crista Cullen and Rob Vickerman

Workshops with the Nevill Holt Opera

Gallery exhibitions at the Nottingham Contemporary Art Gallery

Trust-wide music, photography and art competitions

Sporting talent programmes and tournaments

What sort of skills does enrichment teach?

Our enrichment programme offers something for everyone and develops many transferrable life skills.

• Determination to succeed
• Teamwork
• Winning and losing with grace
• Respect for others
• Tolerance
• Confidence in yourself
• A sense of fun and enjoyment
• Creativity
• Focus and attitude
• Health benefits

Academies across the Trust are encouraged to work collaboratively to make the most of the opportunities on offer and King Edward VI Academy regularly participates in these activities.

In addition to our own partners, the Trust has partnerships with a number of organisations that work with us to provide opportunities in music, drama, art and other cultural pursuits.

For further information about the enrichment opportunities that are on offer please contact:

Sport:
Shane Ward & Alex Green

Music:
Simon Toyne

To contact us please call head office:
01476 566 801