Work Related Learning : Case Study : Great Start To Sixth Form Journey
Event Helpful To New Students At Top Sixth Form
English Martyrs School & Sixth Form College is a vibrant specialist arts school that offers its students a wide range of ‘A’ level subjects and applied business courses.
Rated ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted, the Sixth Form College is placed in the top 5% nationally. Special mention has been made in the recent Ofsted report of the school’s ‘supportive and friendly atmosphere’ and that ‘very good relationships and a real sense of community and support within the sixth form are key features in its success’.
Dr Martine Crilley, Director of Sixth Form, is committed to breaking down barriers and building community at the very start of the ‘sixth form journey’ and for the past 4 years, has chosen Giant Impact to facilitate a Team Building & Gelling event early September, to get students communicating outside their friendship groups.
Dr Crilley believes this type of event is especially helpful to new students joining the college from different schools, as they can meet new friends quickly and in a fun environment; even students coming from the lower school will not necessarily communicate with certain other students in the same year group.
Dr Crilley’s aim was to encourage mutual respect and a sense of belonging at an early stage in the year, which would support the college’s confirmed strategy of building community.
Working with circa 200 Year 12 students, Giant Impact designed a programme to engage and motivate the students throughout the day and get them mixing and collaborating with as many different students as possible.
The event was made more special through organising it offsite at a spectacular Catholic Seminary and Conference Centre near Durham. Students were transported from Hartlepool in a convoy of busses which heightened the anticipation for the day. An excellent buffet lunch was provided for the students and served by the staff.
Following a motivational introduction to the whole group, students were assigned to three separate groups led by Giant Impact facilitators, supported by staff, in high-energy team building challenges. Staff and students worked as a single team throughout.
The final competitive challenge involved the whole cohort reassembling for the finale with prizes in the main theatre. The excitement was electric and students went away buzzing!
Student feedback was really positive. Students commented they had got a tremendous amount from the event, got to know people better and improved their communication skills.
A selection of comments from students:
“Interacting with students I hadn’t talked to before today …. Team building using trust and communication …. Getting to know people from other schools ….. Working with people I didn’t know …. Everyone was so friendly and co-operative …. Talking to new people and learning about team working … Building confidence …. Being taught about what things will help you succeed in life … How the people spoke to you and told you how to get along better …. Learning a lot of things about relationships and communication”
English Martyrs School & Sixth Form College,
Catcote Road, Hartlepool, TS25 4HA
Dr Martine Crilley, Director of Sixth Form.
W: www.ems.hartlepool.sch.uk
The English Martyrs School and Sixth Form College is an expanding 11-18 mixed voluntary aided Catholic High School which has an excellent reputation throughout the area. There are 1590 students on roll including over 300 in the Sixth Form.