On Friday 10th December, students from Notley High School, participated in a break-out day. This involved them exchanging their normal timetabled lessons for other teacher or specialist led activities, where each year group had a different theme for the activities they were taking part in. "Today offers the students a chance to have different experiences and assist them in becoming reflective learners." Says Mr David Calver, the co-ordinator and brains behind the day.

 

The Year 7 & 8 students engaged in activities and workshops based around tribal and other cultures; with the year 7’s learning about different tribes and the year 8’s creating their own tribes. The year 9’s experienced a day where they were given time to learn about potential GCSE subjects they may wish to take in the future, and the year 10's were taught about issues of global importance. Lastly, the year 11's were given the opportunity to be involved in a simulation of receiving their GCSE results, discuss with their teachers ways in which to improve on these and take part in various talks, led by Braintree Sixth Form students, staff and visitors about their options post 16.

The break-out day offered the students opportunities that they wouldn't normally be able to fulfil in day to day lessons. The workshops that the year 9, 10 and 11’s took part in were a concept that has been explored in previous years, although not in the same context, but the tribal themed workshops for the younger years was a completely new idea for the school. For this, they ran workshops in making tribal masks and costumes, competing in tribal games, and they even had the opportunity to create their own tribes. "The overall purpose of the tribal days was to develop personal learning and thinking skills which help pupils to become more independent and self empowered over their own learning" explained Mr David Calver.

The feedback from the students and teachers a-like was positive with every student being willing to succumb to the activities of the day and enjoying it. "It's better than normal lessons, and it opens your eyes and makes you feel more culturally aware," says a year 10 student. Although all workshops were thoroughly enjoyed, African dancing seemed to be the favourite for the year 10’s, whilst the younger pupils seemed to enjoy mask making and African drumming the most.

It’s the first time Notley High School have hosted this particular event and overall the day was a complete success, with all members of the school getting something out of the day; be it cultural awareness, help with choosing their future options for KS4 or motivation to do better in their GCSE’s than how they performed in their mocks.

Written by Lauren Franklin and Danielle Cook (Year 12 Braintree Sixth Form)

Photos by Robert Wyatt, Abbi Green Lauren Franklin and Danielle Cook (Year 12 Braintree Sixth Form)