Enrichment

Enrichment is at the heart of our curriculum and an integral part of our daily life at Packmoor Ormiston Academy. The range of opportunities to develop individual’s natural talents and broaden children’s horizons are immense. We firmly believe that true learning happens when children’s curiosity, creativity and experiences are ‘hands on,’ ‘fun,’ and unique. We this in mind our curriculum and timetables are tailored to provide our children with the best possible learning journey throughout their time at our academy.

As part of the Ormiston Academy Trust, we believe that Enrichment helps to raise academic standards, enhance performance and teach life skills that will equip our pupils for an ever-changing world. These give the children important first-hand experiences and they also bring subjects to life, providing real interest, memorable experiences, enthusiasm and motivation for learning and school life.

School Clubs

Our amazing and varied out-of-school clubs programmes provide a vast range of opportunities for pupils to learn skills that are not usually acquired in school, such as athletic and artistic performance skills.

Throughout the year at different times there are many clubs available. This includes: Computers, Choir, Spanish Eco club, Guitars, Cross Country, Maths, Art, Sports including Swimming; Cooking, Dance, Drama, Recorders and Choir to name a few!

Please click to view list of clubs for his Academic year.

Our Enrichment Passport

Children at our school are given an ‘enrichment passport,’ as an ongoing record of their enrichment achievements. The OAT Enrichment Charter aims are for all children to:

  1. Experience the arts and culture
  2. Experience live sporting events
  3. Visit British places/regions outside their local community
  4. Experience cultures and countries outside the UK
  5. Be a good neighbour in their local community
  6. Gain valuable experience of work
  7. Develop their character
  8. Make a positive contribution to society
  9. Develop lifelong interests and skills for life
  10. Learn outside the classroom

Educational Visits and Visitors

From time to time we are able to have visiting sports coaches from local teams for football and rugby. The children are given opportunities to experience live theatre and music through groups visiting school and trips to the theatre. Children are also taken on class trips as part of their topic and there is an opportunity for residential experiences both locally and abroad in Years 5 and 6.

Our most recent opportunities include:

  • A visit to Cadbury’s world to learn about the Aztecs and the production of chocolate
  • Apedale mining colliery trip
  • Bike- ability training
  • Stoke City football boys and girls football team coaching
  • A whole school trip to see Treasure Island at the New Vic theatre
  • Participation in the Young voices concert at Birmingham Genting Arena

Primary enrichment gives students the chance to participate in activities that supplement learning and enable them to broaden their skills and experiences, identify talent and enhance it.

Extracurricular activities appear to provide leadership and social skills development. These skills have been shown to lead to greater self-esteem and higher aspirations in both current academic situations and in the pursuit of long-term careers (Carns et al., 1995).

Experience the Arts

Throughout the school year teachers deliver the curriculum following an ‘experiential’ approach that will include specific enrichment activities alongside our main themes we have whole school planned ‘enrichment days or weeks’. These can take the form of a visiting artists such as participation in theatre workshops with the ‘Take a hint theatre group,’ and the opportunity to step inside a life-sized inflatable whale!!