Question 6 - How can enrichment take place without damaging our formal timetabled curriculum?
Staff felt that enrichment is an important strength of Highfield and should continue, but could be managed in a much smarter way.
The consensus of the group was to trial activity weeks to alleviate disruption. It was felt the early roll forward would allow the time for this and that visit weeks would allow staff preparation time for disruption to curriculum.
Ideas generated:-
- 4 pre-determined visit weeks
- Hold activity weeks in conjunction with Camp weeks
- Plan curriculum time with contingency built in
- Plan enrichment in collaboration with other subjects (blocked curriculum time would support this)
- Can enrichment take place in school
- Timetable day switches to minimise disruption
- Raise money to support enrichment
- Museums and parks = free
- Can alternative staff support visits to free staff time?
- Buy a larger school coach
- Timetable enrichment time e.g. 1 hour to allow for short courses etc
- Residential trips to take place in school time
Consultation points:-
- Trial of pre-detarmined visit weeks in 2009-10?
- How can cover be paid for, for enrichment?
Comments (3)
Jacqui Cartwright said
at 11:33 am on Oct 7, 2008
Perhaps we could approach the PTFA to start planning to raise money for another school minibus. How much is spent on taxi's? If we train them in MIDAS could we use volunteers to drive the minibuses?
Also, at primary level parents/family members are used frequently on trips to make required adult/child ratios up, why can't we try this?
We need to offer more affordable trips too. Far too many kids miss out on trips due to costs. Maybe there are ways to apply for financial support to enable us to offer this enrichment. Let's start raising money NOW to support enrichment. Try and get all staff onboard, in whatever capacity. I think this would boost whole school morale fantastically, really bring home "Working Together".
Build a list of people/companies that could come into school to offer enrichment, thereby saving on expensive travelling costs and staff cover. we need to make more of the "free" resources we have in the community.
Jacqui Cartwright said
at 11:43 am on Oct 7, 2008
PLEASE, please, please get to know the governors! Invite them along to more things. We are all working for the same outcomes; to provide our school, and everyone in it, with the best we possibly can. The more informed and involved we are, where appropriate, the better. We are here, use us. We don't bite!
Peter Westhorpe said
at 3:48 pm on Oct 7, 2008
Thanks Jacqui
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