This week, we invited a number of external agencies to deliver presentations and workshops for our students. The aim was to broaden perspectives and help foster a more inclusive atmosphere within our community. We hope everyone took a lot away from the activities!
Safety first
Monday saw Keely Dermody from Lancashire Police visiting a Year 7 assembly to deliver an important presentation on knife crime.
The presentation shone a light on the real-life consequences of carrying weapons and gave our young learners the chance to hear directly from someone with first-hand experience on tackling crime in the community.
Students asked some insightful questions, and we hope the message of making positive choices will stay with them.
With You
Another external agency, With You, delivered a drug and alcohol awareness class to Year 10s on Monday.
Mr T led the session and had open and honest conversations about the consequences of peer pressure, addiction, and recreational consumption.
They explored the physical, emotional, and social impact that substance misuse can have, not just on individuals but on families and communities. Real-life stories helped to bring the message home, showing how experimenting or giving in to pressure can quickly lead to serious consequences.
These sessions equip young people with the knowledge and confidence to make safer choices.
Open Evening success
On Tuesday, we welcomed Year 6 classes from local primary schools to experience a taste of what high school life is like. They took part in a host of lessons, from DT to science, maths, humanities, English, and computing.
By evening, we were all set up to welcome them and their parents back for our Open Evening. The event was jam-packed from start to finish, and we even had to put on an extra Headteacher Talk to accommodate the high number of visitors!
Thank you to all who came.
Equality & Diversity Day
During External Agencies Week, we also host a day of inclusivity-themed activities for Year 7 to broaden perspectives and encourage acceptance.
In PE, inclusion means making sure everyone gets to take part, no matter their ability, background, or gender.
In seated volleyball, we experienced how people with physical disabilities can still compete and have fun. In netball, we thought about how sport connects different cultures and communities. And in football, we challenged gender stereotypes and showed that the game is for everyone!
And to end the day, Year 7 took part in a Bollywood workshop with the wonderful Neetal Parekh from the Lancashire Equality & Diversity Team, along with her sixth form helpers.
Students had a great time showing their teachers how it’s done!
An immersive experience
Year 12 & 13 Theatre Studies students visited 3 theatrical venues part of the Darkfield experience at The Lowry.
Students were on the bounce to experience three very different immersive experiences, each set in a shipping container outside the theatre itself, presented by the award-winning theatre company Darkfield.
They saw…
‘Flight’ at Aviva studios: In pitch darkness, they experienced a terrifying metaphysical disaster in which we were confronted with the notion of string theory and the stewardess from hell… Literally!
‘Seance’ at ‘home’ put them in a Victorian parlour, for some supernatural shenanigans in which they were all ‘possessed’ by the same spirit “you’ll never be lonely again”. Shiver-inducing stuff!
And finally ‘Arcade’ at the Lowry, where they entered an 80s-style gaming arcade. Each stood in front of our own machine and had to make choices in a ‘choose your own adventure’ style. Complete with blood splatter (water!) gun flashes and tokens dispensed, they all navigated their way through a dystopian future…
Thank you to Mr Anderson and the Drama team for organising the trip.
“Our students are so lovely – It’s a genuine pleasure to spend time with them,” Mr Anderson said.
A rollercoaster of a day
Year 12 and 13 set off to Alton Towers early this morning! It’s a chance for Year 12 to get to know their older peers and to also let off the team of the first few weeks of A Levels.
We hope you’re having a fab time!
