Cheryl Smith
Cheryl Smith talks about her club and their plans to go to Disneyland Paris.
Who runs the club?
Myself, Sheila Woolam (science teacher), Emma Eaton (Maths teacher) and Amy Hunter (Technology teacher)
Club membership
KS3 year 9 G&T but also rolled out to anyone at KS3, numbers rose and then fell back to G&T cohort of year 9
Please describe the activity carried out and its aims.
Study Experiences SATs Trip to Disneyland Paris, Consolidation and extension of learning objectives in core subjects in the first instance and also of non core subjects such as music, art and technology
Do you feel that the activity had a positive impact on the pupils? If so, please describe how.
Have not yet been, but the news has certainly further raised the profile of the club within school both from a pupil and teacher point of view.
What has been the response from the students?
“Do you think we will have to eat frog’s legs?!”
Do you feel that the activity had a positive impact on the staff? If so, please describe how.
Lots of paperwork, major planning and giving up of free time but whole heartedly believe the benefit to the pupils will make me forget all they time and energy gone into arranging it.
Do you have any useful tips for other teachers/club leaders on how to plan a good club activity?
Ask the pupils about what they want to learn so that they drive the club on and then reward their dedication to the club with a high profile event or trip. Also discuss with pupils why some of their suggestions cannot go ahead e.g. pupils wanted to go to Go Ape but safety and their age would mean a 1:1 ration of adults to pupil which isn’t available and they understand rather than thinking “they don’t listen to me”
Any future plans for the club?
Continue putting into action the recent development of having a maths and technology teacher representative to fully extend pupils’ knowledge and understanding of all things science, engineering, maths and technology based.
