Extra Curricular
At St Anne’s students are supported in their learning and development through a range of opportunities outside of the classroom, including many opportunities to join clubs and to engage in educational visits and experiences. In this way, we aim to provide a school curriculum that will enrich lives and inspire ambitions.
We see engagement in enrichment activities as a crucial element in the development of virtues that will allow our students to achieve their potential.
Within subject curriculum we offer a range of educational and cultural experiences that allow students to further develop their enjoyment and learning outside of the classroom.
There are endless opportunities for all of our students to join extra-curricular clubs and enrichment activities across the school.
We aspire to provide the following opportunities during their time with us, to develop their social capital.
PSHE lessons at St Anne’s follow the new Department for Education Statutory guidelines on Relationships Education, Relationships and Sex Education (RSE), and Health Education. Our RSE curriculum gives pupils the knowledge, understanding, attitudes, and practical skills to live healthy, safe, productive, and fulfilled lives, both now and in the future.
We use the ‘Life to the Full’ programme or resources to support the delivery of our lessons. These follow three main themes:
- • A cultural event (a theatre visit, a concert/opera, visit a major art gallery).
- • A major sporting event.
- • An educational residential visit (national or international).
- • An outdoor education experience that is challenging.
- • An opportunity to play a musical instrument.
- • An opportunity to spend time with students with different cultural backgrounds.
- • Supporting a charitable activity.
- • A visit to a regional university.
- • Opportunities to work alongside a charity, raising awareness for different causes.
- • An opportunity to be involved in a voluntary/community event that could be externally accredited e.g., Duke of Edinburgh Award.
Duke of Edinburgh
What we do
At St. Anne’s, the numbers taking part in the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme are growing year on year. More readily known as the ‘DofE’, it is a leading youth awards programme that offers a challenging programme of activities which develop the mind, body and soul in an environment of social interaction and team working. It encourages young people to ‘live life as an adventure’.
Over recent years, a number of pupils have worked towards their Bronze award in Year 9 and their Silver award in Year 10. This year, we have around 40 students currently working to achieve Bronze award.
Mrs Bowden – DofE Leader
The Award
At St. Anne’s the DofE is fully inclusive, all students regardless of ability, gender or background can take part. Achieving the award allows all students to fulfil personal challenges and push their boundaries, taking part in activities that are outside the academic curriculum. The Award focuses on four key areas: Physical, Skills, Volunteering and Expedition. All four sections, challenge students to undertake activities including making a difference in the community/environment, developing personal fitness, developing new skills, and planning, training for and completing an expedition.
When it takes place
The Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme begins at the start of the academic year, for year 9 students. Students select activities for each of the three key sections: voluntary work, something physical and learning a new skill. In the Summer term, students will complete the fourth section as a team: planning, training for, and completion of an expedition to Linnet Clough campsite in order to achieve the final part of their Bronze award.
St. Anne’s students have taken part in a wide range of activities and have created a variety of memorable experiences whilst working towards the volunteering, physical and skills part of their award. Examples have included:
- Learning sign language
- Volunteering at local charity shops including Barnardo’s.
- Volunteering at local cub/ brownie and scout groups
- Joining school groups such as gardening club and journalism club
- Home baking
- Pen pal writing with the elderly.
The Expeditions
Expeditions have taken place in local areas around Chadkirk, Linnet Clough and Marple. Our Bronze expeditions start in Chadkirk go over to Linnet Clough, and around the beautiful canal paths and countryside, ending in Hague Barr.
For the Bronze Award, students do a two-day, one-night expedition. The expeditions, which the students plan and prepare for during extra curricular sessions, are both fun and challenging, taking students out of their comfort zones, developing their confidence as well as create life-long memories.
Benefits of the DofE
The benefits of achieving a DofE Award for students are endless. Many St. Anne’s students say the experiences are life changing as they have opportunities to develop skills and complete challenges outside their comfort zones and gain a belief in themselves and their abilities. It is a fantastic way for them to demonstrate and evidence communication, commitment, leadership and teamwork in practice.
Further information is available on the Duke of Edinburgh website: www.edofe.org