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Curriculum Support & Enrichment

Enrichment Programme

At The Whitby High School, we believe that enrichment is a fantastic way to enhance students’ enjoyment of school life and foster an inclusive, community spirit within our school.
 
Our Enrichment Programme is designed to engage students with the wider community and develop the essential skills, experiences and qualities they need for life beyond school. A thriving enrichment programme plays an important role in promoting employability, supporting academic achievement and equipping young people to make positive choices and contribute to society.
 
We offer a broad and diverse range of enrichment opportunities so that every student has the opportunity to discover new interests, develop their talents, build confidence and try something beyond their usual classroom experience.
 

Our programme includes opportunities across a range of areas, including:

  • Sport and physical activity
  • Creative and cultural activities
  • Clubs and societies
  • Music and performing arts
  • Volunteering and community participation
  • Charity and fundraising
  • Student leadership and student voice
  • Work-related learning and enterprise
  • Careers and employer engagement
  • Trips, visits and international experiences
 
These opportunities support the DFE Enrichment Benchmarks, ensuring that students have access to a broad range of experiences that develop their personal, social and employability skills. They provide opportunities for students to participate, contribute, lead, experience different cultures and perspectives, develop interests and talents, and gain valuable experiences beyond the classroom.
 
Students are encouraged to take an active role in their enrichment journey and to explore opportunities that reflect their own interests, strengths and aspirations. Participation and achievements are recognised through our Whitby Pledges, giving students a clear record of the experiences they have gained throughout their time at The Whitby High School.
 
We are continually developing our enrichment offer and working with community organisations, employers and external partners to broaden the opportunities available to our students and ensure that enrichment remains an integral part of life at The Whitby High School.

Sports Fixtures

In addition to the PE Enrichment Clubs, we also offer opportunities to compete against other schools in a range of competitions, including Football, Netball, Rugby, Basketball and many more.  Students are selected for these opportunities based on how they perform in lessons and their attendance at relevant extra-curricular clubs.  The dates of these fixture can vary, so students are provided with a letter in advance of the competition, to confirm their selection/availability.  It is essential that the PE department are informed at least one day in advance, if a student cannot attend a fixture, so that we can offer the place to someone else

Links with local sports clubs and other sports specialists

Students have easy access to many sporting clubs in the area. We advertise many open events. Particular links have been made with Chester Volleyball Club and Cheshire Phoenix Basketball Club and Ellesmere Port Rugby Club.

The school invites visiting coaches to take sessions either during curriculum time or at the evening school clubs. These have included the sports of football, tennis, rugby and archery in recent sessions. It is hoped that these links will be continued and increased in the future.

Duke of Edinburgh's Award

What is DofE?

A life-changing experience. A fun time with friends. An opportunity to discover new interests and talents. A tool to develop essential skills for life and work. A recognised mark of achievement; respected by employers.

The DofE is many things to many people, supporting generations to successfully navigate adult life.

14-24 year-olds can do a DofE programme at one of three progressive levels which, when successfully completed, leads to a Bronze, Silver or Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.

There are four sections to complete at Bronze and Silver level and five at Gold. They involve helping the community/environment, becoming fitter, developing new skills, planning, training for and completing an expedition and, for Gold only, working with a team on a residential activity.

Any young person can do their DofE – regardless of ability, gender, background or location. Achieving an Award isn’t a competition or about being first. It’s all about setting personal challenges and pushing personal boundaries.

Through a DofE programme young people have fun, make friends, improve their self-esteem and build confidence. They gain essential skills and attributes for work and life such as resilience, problem-solving, team-working, communication and drive, enhancing CVs and uni and job applications. Top employers recognise the work-ready skills Award holders bring to their business.

The DofE licenses organisations that work with young people to run DofE programmes, such as schools, colleges, youth groups and clubs. Through the Licensed Organisation (LO) young people (or their parents / carers) pay for a Participation Place and are supported by Leaders who support them through their programmes, helping them to choose their activities, set their objectives and achieve their Award.

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is a registered charity, funded by donations, Participation Places and licences. The charity works with LOs across the UK to increase opportunities for young people to gain the benefits of doing their DofE.

 

Why do DofE?

For the hundreds of thousands of young people who take part each year, the benefits of achieving a DofE Award at any level are endless. DofE is about helping you along the path to a productive and prosperous future. As many of our participants say, it’s life-changing.

Achieving an Award will give you skills, confidence and an edge over others when you apply for college, university or a job. Beyond your academic achievements, universities want to see evidence of so called ‘soft skills’ that you have developed through extra-curricular activities, such as communication, commitment, leadership and teamwork. Your DofE Award is a fantastic way to demonstrate and evidence these skills in practice.

You’ll also make a difference to other people’s lives and your community, be fitter and healthier, make new friends and have memories to last you a lifetime.

Our participants also tell us that doing their DofE gives them character traits like confidence and resilience, that can boost their mental health and wellbeing and help them face and overcome personal challenges.  

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