Enrichment & Personal Development
There are a wide range of clubs and opportunities for pupils to contribute to the school and local community, for instance as charity ambassadors. This develops pupils’ self-confidence.
Ofsted
Enrichment and Personal Development at the Upper Academy, is split into 4 pillars: Core enrichment, co-curricular enrichment, academic enrichment and trips and experiences.
Core Enrichment and Personal Development are predominantly delivered through the academies tutor time programme; students will engage in a range of sessions each week covering a range of topics such as:
- Student briefings and assemblies
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Financial Numeracy
- Current affairs
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Wellbeing and Mindfulness
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Careers and Future Aspirations
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Debates and Voting
- Any information in the news or relevant to the time of year (e.g. Remembrance Sunday)
Co-curricular offers a wide range of extra-curricular clubs, these run on Tuesdays/Wednesdays and Thursdays. There is a very broad range of clubs for every interest ranging from Sports, Music, Book Clubs, Games clubs and many more!
Academic Enrichment incorporates interventions where students are able to broaden their frames of reference; these include revision programmes which run sporadically throughout the year, concentrated around exam time. There are also drop down days throughout the year to support students in their academic enrichment.
Trips and experiences students embrace compulsory educational visits and the option to take part in both day and residential trips that build resilience and self-esteem. Experiences have previously included university campus visits, field trips to Walton-on-the-Naze and a fun residential to Wales.
Our Enrichment and Personal Development programme is an essential and valuable part of our school day. The age appropriate enrichment model supports a ‘Passion for Learning’ in Key Stage 3, a ‘Passion for Purpose’ in Key Stage 4 and a ‘Passion for Life’ in Key Stage 5.
The enrichment opportunities are student choice. The programme has been set up to support and positively impact:
- Student resilience
- Self-esteem
- Passion for learning
- Sense of belonging
- The ability to stretch & challenge
- Equity of opportunity
- Broad experiences and frames of reference
- Employability skills
- Student cultural and social mobility
- Motivation of ‘hard to reach’ students
Our wide and varied extra-curricular programme sees a range of clubs available for all students to take part in and enjoy. Over the course of the year, students are rewarded for their achievement and participation in these clubs.
We take great pride in seeing our students represent the Upper Academy in a wide range of competitions and performances.