Curriculum Enrichment and Cultural Capital

At Powers Hall Academy, we believe that memorable and meaningful learning will occur through acquiring knowledge and skills alongside real-life, practical and enriching experiences. This approach is at the heart of our ethos and commitment to providing a holistic education for our children. We are aware that our pupils start with us with varied life experiences and we therefore believe that it is our responsibility to open up as much of the world to them as possible and offer them opportunities to encounter new experiences. Therefore, each theme within our curriculum includes memorable experiences or enrichment opportunities – this may be an off-site visit, an experience within school or an opportunity to showcase their learning for others. These activities are not only planned to allow children to apply their learning or to engage in a shared experience to build learning on in the future but to develop pupil’s character and give them the best opportunities to find their own interests and skills and start to think about what they might aspire to in the future.

To support and extend our learners’ experiences, we:

• plan a wide range of activities that enrich the curriculum

• plan visits to museums, galleries, places of worships and other venues of historical, cultural or educational interest

• encourage children to take part in sporting events and competitions

• celebrate the skills and talents of our children within special assemblies and events

• invite visitors into the school to share their knowledge, experiences and expertise

• arrange special workshops on-site

• offer learning opportunities and events before and after school

• use the local environment as a resource

• offer a range of After-School Clubs

In addition to our exciting and stimulating cross-curricular themes, we also provide further opportunities to enhance children’s learning wherever possible. These include:

Educational Visits and Residential Trips

School trips and visits are an integral part of the education of children at Powers Hall Academy. We value the opportunities such visits offer our pupils and the commitment of staff and adults undertaking them.  Trips include class visits aimed at bringing learning alive and providing first-hand experience; extra-curricular outings such as activities with the school choir or sporting events; and attending or taking part in performances or competitions.  

Children in Year 6 take part in a three day residential visit. These are planned to provide new and exciting experiences, they take part orienteering, climbing, abseiling, raft building, archery and lots more. Many classes experience visits to places that are linked to their topics, such as museums, as well as exploring the local area.

Whole School Theme Days/Weeks

Throughout the year, themed days/weeks are woven into the curriculum to extend and enhance the breadth and balance of opportunities we offer our pupils. These include, Anti-Bullying Week and Safety Day, Creative Arts Week, World Book Day, Black History Month, Mental Health Awarenes Week, Fair Trade, European Day of Languages, RE Days and much more. 

Visitors into School

Visitors have a valuable role to play and can contribute to many aspects of the life and work of the school.  They deliver talks, workshops and activities across a wide range of subjects, giving pupils access to outside experiences and expertise. Visitors provide a link with the wider community, including our local secondary schools– children have the opportunity to work alongside specialist teachers, artists, musicians, authors, health professions and others.

Assemblies

A rounded programme of assemblies helps to promote pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development, fundamental British values, and provide clear guidance on what is right and what is wrong. Once a week, assemblies are led by class teachers who deliver assemblies on a given theme linked to a key awareness day. These assemblies introduce pupils to significant individuals, from all backgrounds, who have positively influenced the world in which we live and celebrate their achievements and contributions.

We also have a celebration assembly once a week in which the whole school community come together to celebrate the achievements of pupils that week.

Clubs

We try and offer a variety of clubs to capture the interest of a wide range of children. Many clubs are run by our own staff, but we also work with a range of external providers to ensure a high quality offer for our pupils. Clubs include:

• Football
• Netball
• Dodgeball
• Multi Sports
• Choir and Musical Theatre
• Rock Steady
• STEM
• Arts & Crafts

Homework

Homework can make an important contribution to a child’s progress at school.  As well as reinforcing learning in the classroom, homework helps children to develop the skills and attitudes they will need for successful independent lifelong learning. Homework is set in-line with the school’s policy, with tasks planned to appropriately challenge all pupils.  Weekly activities focus on reading, maths and spellings to reinforce and consolidate skills taught.  

Please see below the programme of enrichment opportunities and memorable experiences for each Year group: