BEYOND THE CLASSROOM CO-CURRICULAR LIFE AT THE KING ALFRED SCHOOL
CONTENTS Choice 4 KAS Clubs 7 Sports Clubs Music Clubs
Camps, Trips & The Village 10 Duke of Edinburgh 17 Social Action 18 Sixth Form 20 Enrichment Work Experience Higher Education and Progression
School Six 24 KAS Connected 25 This page (top to bottom): Sketching in the Art department; cycling on the Year 12 camp to East Anglia; Year 7s visit Greenwich Observatory. On the cover (clockwise from top left): KAS students participate in the Great River Race on the Thames; students take to the stage for the annual Upper
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School show; Sixth Formers enjoy a boat trip at camp; a musical performance by KAS students.
INTRODUCTION
For children to truly fulfil their potential
develops character and
– in school, in life and amongst their
transferable skills in addition to
peers – they need to be supported
knowledge and understanding.
to express and develop their skills, imagination, creativity, sense of
By thinking creatively and going
adventure and ways of working.
‘beyond the classroom’, we bring together real-world experiences,
In order to achieve this, their
outdoor learning, clubs, camps and
educational journey needs to be
trips to equip our young people with
seen as a whole and not a series of
the skills needed to make a
component parts. At KAS, what
difference in an ever-changing world.
might traditionally be described as ‘extra’ curricular activities are an intrinsic part of the learning experience, interwoven into school life. For us, they are ‘co-curricular’. This enables us to go further than solely focussing on rigorous academic attainment, delivering a deeper learning experience that
“Education is not just about going to school and getting a degree. It's about widening your knowledge and absorbing the truth about life” Shakuntala Devi, famed mathematician 3
CHOICE Friday afternoons in Upper School
from sports leadership to helping in
are reserved for ‘Choice’, which
Lower School.
sees students select from a range of new learning opportunities. We
Every activity is linked to our
seek to engage their ‘head, heart
Deeper Learning Wheel (pictured
and hands’ to paraphrase famous
below left), which promotes the
educationalist Johann Pestalozzi.
key threads that make up the education we offer at KAS.
Options are as diverse as community engagement in the
Giving students this space to
local area to blacksmithing, and
choose which activity they want to undertake each term helps to individualise their learning. As a result, their education becomes a more rounded experience, where every child understands their own potential and approaches life with real ambition.
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Art – Sketchbook Work Ballet Band Basketball traditional Bicycle Maintenance Using techniques to forge metal objects, Blacksmithing students learn to communicate design Bouldering ideas, collaborate with their peers, and Brilliant Books problem-solve any Board & Card Games challenges that arise. Classical Civilisations Clay & 3D Art Community Engagement Computing – Photoshop Cooking Students Cultures in London develop their knowledge of Dance mythology, history, art, Drama Improvisation literature, and language in a fun and Dungeons & Dragons interactive way. Filmmaking Football Forest School Games Programming Golf Graphics & Printmaking Helping in Lower School Ice Skating Develops leadership and mentoring skills, whilst also contributing to our supportive and positive community.
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Independent Study Introduction to Buddhism & Meditation Drawing on their Italian for Beginners creativity and imagination, students Japanese for Beginners design and create a ring or signet ring using Jewellery Making wax carving techniques. Challenges are seen as Latin American opportunities to enhance their work. Movement & Dance Middle School Show Money Matters Music Technology Photography (Beginners, Advanced or GCSE Prep) Practical Life Skills Python Programming Students develop technical skills including recording Sewing techniques and contemporary music production. They Skateboarding collaborate with other musicians to support each Radio Controlled Cars other's development. Religious Art & Architecture Sports Leaders Qualification Upper School Show Yoga As well as honing practical skills, this Choice also enhances problemsolving through troubleshooting and fine-tuning vehicle performance.
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The Choice topics listed here are illustrative of the breadth and variety of options available in any given school year, and are subject to change from term to term.
KAS CLUBS The school’s extensive offering of clubs enables KAS students to pursue a diverse range of passions. This helps us to deliver the joyful and meaningful education that society needs, students deserve and, we believe, parents want. Clubs take place before, during and after the school day. They are tailored to different year groups, covering interests such as debate, music, sport, science, art, maths and languages. 12
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Sports Clubs Sports clubs are run by both our expert PE team and external local organisations with whom we have long-running relationships. Football, netball, cross-country and cheerleading are just some of the opportunities on offer.
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Clockwise from top right: Year 7 students enjoy a game of netball; a Sports Day event at the StoneX Stadium; members of the Sixth Form boys football team; a trampolining session. Previous page: Members of the Middle School Chamber Ensemble prepare for a performance.
Music Clubs Specialist music clubs give our students another chance to develop their creative skills. In addition to Rock, Jazz, and Music Technology clubs, there are also choirs and orchestras in which students can participate. Top left and bottom: KAS musicians rehearse ahead of the Spring concert. Top right: Students perform in the annual AxeMonsters show, a firm favourite on the KAS calendar, which features performances ranging from rock and pop to jazz and folk.
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CAMPS, TRIPS & THE VILLAGE KAS students have access to an extensive programme of camps and trips during their time at the school. As well as enhancing the curriculum and bringing elements of class-based learning to life, these excursions also represent meaningful opportunities to develop students’ confidence, resilience and sense of responsibility. 10
Camps Camps are an integral part of our Upper School programme. They enable students to experience up to a week living away from home each year. Most require students to do all their own catering and cleaning, and tech use is minimal. Camps also allow students to mix and collaborate with those from other classes and take part in different activities to those they encounter in daily school life.
This page (clockwise from left): archery at Year 7 camp in Somerset; high wires at Year 12 camp in East Anglia; ghyll scrambling at Year 10 camp; surfing at Year 9 camp in Devon. Previous page: Year 10s enjoy their self-built forest camp shelter.
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Curriculum Trips A wide range of trips take place
Outings closer to home include
every year, both in the UK and
visits to galleries such as Tate
abroad, designed to enrich
Modern and Hayward Gallery,
students’ learning experiences.
trips to see plays and musicals like To Kill A Mockingbird in the West
Departments manage their own
End, and art and photography
trip schedule, with teachers
shows at the likes of Saatchi
selecting destinations that best
Gallery. Other outings include
complement classroom learning.
visits to workshops, museums,
The Biology and Geography
university degree shows,
departments organise residential
businesses, book readings and
fieldwork to destinations such as
festivals.
Flatford Mill in Suffolk and Cardiff Bay, whilst staff from Modern Foreign Languages take students to Lyon and San Sebastian for intensive language practice. Art and Photography students travel every year to a foreign city (past destinations have included Eindhoven, Berlin, Barcelona, Venice, Istanbul and Paris), whilst the History/Government and Politics department has led trips to Normandy, Washington, Cuba and Moscow.
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Top to bottom: Year 11s on a French trip to Lyon; Year 9s visit the Thiepval Memorial on a History trip to Ypres, Belgium; Year 13 students get autographs from photographer Todd Hido during a Photography trip to Paris
Namibia Each year, a group of Year 11 students go on a trip to Namibia to support the charity EHRA (Elephant-Human Relations Aid), helping with efforts to protect elephants and volunteering in local schools. They also spend time exploring the desert and experience unique educational opportunities, such as identifying animal tracks and navigating their route using maps. In the build-up to the trip, each student takes responsibility for fundraising to cover the cost of their place, developing their sense of independence.
Top to bottom: listening to a local guide in an open-sided Jeep; KAS students getting to know local children in the Namibian desert; group shot from the annual trip.
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Ski trip An annual ski trip is also on offer to Upper School students. Open to everyone from new starters to seasoned pros, the trip is a chance to mix with other year groups, make new friends, strengthen existing bonds and enjoy a sport which students may not otherwise have the opportunity to experience.
Top and left: students enjoy the skiing in Sestriere, Italy. Above: on the slopes in Tremblant, Canada.
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The Village
Considered a rite of passage during a student’s KAS journey, this experience sees Year 8 students spending a week living in self-built huts in a leafy corner of the school grounds – known as ‘The Village’. They are encouraged to live by the school’s core principles of mutual respect, social responsibility, individuality and self-reliance, and to embrace the enjoyment of education through freedom and play. Whilst living in The Village, students take part in daily activities and sleep in their huts for the whole week. They collaborate to cook their own food on open fires and organise their own governance through the ‘Witan’ (daily meeting).
During this time, they are completely cut off from the rest of the world; there are no phones, no tablets and no laptops. A core of six teachers act as The Village staff, who sleep in their own encampment. Their main role during the day is to act as facilitators, staying in the background as much as possible! Like so many of the educational experiences at KAS, The Village is designed to nurture questionseekers, problem-solvers and solution-builders, ultimately preparing children to flourish in a fast-moving world. It also furthers their learning about contribution as responsible social citizens. 15
“After The Village, I felt more connected to things like food and shelter because I’d worked for it – I’d earned it” Ella, KAS student
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DUKE OF EDINBURGH From Year 9 onwards, students can choose to participate in the highly popular Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) Award programme. There are three levels of award, Bronze, Silver and Gold, which increase in challenge and duration. The vocational award requires students to develop and demonstrate ability in four areas: Volunteering, Physical, Skills, and Expedition. At Gold, participants also complete a Residential section. Having offered DofE at KAS for several years, we have seen first-hand how the programme rewards students with a great sense of achievement,
“I have become more resilient and independent through DofE” Luca, KAS student and Gold Award recipient
purpose and independence. The award also reinforces many of the values from the KAS Deeper Learning Wheel (as detailed on page four), including ‘contribution’ within the Volunteering section and ‘collaboration’ through their Expedition. Right (top to bottom): Year 9 & 10 students scale a hill in the Peak District for their Silver Award; KAS student Luca and fellow Year 13s hiking in the Scottish Highlands as part of their DofE Expedition
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SOCIAL ACTION Social responsibility is one of the school’s guiding principles. As such, we provide students with opportunities to go out into the local community (and beyond) with the knowledge and understanding needed to make a difference – socially, environmentally, politically or otherwise. These opportunities vary based on need and the issues our students feel passionately about. Examples of recent volunteering and 12 18
social action projects at KAS are detailed overleaf.
Fundraising Students regularly take part in fundraising initiatives for various external charities. Examples include our Food Fair challenge, where Year 7s team up to create food stalls (including the food, packaging, advertising and the stall itself) to raise money for a local food bank. Students have also supported charities such as Student Action for Refugees by selling baked goods at Friday Café, and Show Racism the Red Card by taking part in Wear Red Day.
Community Outreach Our ‘Community Outreach’ Choice option sees students forge relationships with local organisations. Some have run art sessions, held games afternoons and sang for bedbound residents at a local care home, inspired by the learnings from their Year 8 Global Inequality project. A separate initiative saw Year 11 students lead activities at another care home as part of a project called ‘Promoting Flourishing: A Service Learning and Action Research Program’, in collaboration with professors from Harvard.
Top to bottom: Collecting donations on Wear Red Day; Students run a Chinese food stall for the Food Fair challenge; a Year 11 plays games at a care home for residents with dementia. Previous page: A KAS student packs bags at a food bank.
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SIXTH FORM Sixth Formers at KAS are empowered, independent young people who value learning through collaboration and exploration. Here in our dedicated Sixth Form building, they also develop the skills needed to be change-makers who positively impact the world around them.
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Enrichment
Friday afternoons see Sixth Formers
target their academic skills or
take part in our Enrichment
personal development, or those
programme. We offer a host of
that give back to the community
activities designed to help
at KAS and beyond the gates.
students develop life and learning
Options include various
skills, and to broaden their
volunteering roles, peer mentoring,
portfolio of experience and
helping in Lower School, and a
subject immersion beyond the
range of independent projects
classroom.
such as running charity campaigns, learning to code and
It includes practical opportunities
even studying for a pilot’s license.
for leadership, teamwork, independent learning, project-
Many students select options that
based learning, teaching,
will enhance their personal
mentoring and hands-on learning.
statements, university applications,
Students can select activities that
CV, or preparation for life after KAS. 21
Work Experience All Year 12 students complete at
experts in their intended university
least one week’s work experience
or career fields.
in June. Placements can be selfgenerated or arranged in
Organisations students have
collaboration with KAS.
completed work experience at include Age UK, UCL Bioscience
This is a key part of the Sixth Form
Lab, Investec, Thomas
programme, and an excellent
Heatherwick Studios, Adidas HQ
opportunity for students to gain
in Germany, Simon Gillespie Art
professional experience in
Restoration and local medical
workplaces and learn from
practices.
Higher Education & Progression The ‘Life After KAS’ programme runs for all Sixth Form students throughout Years 12 and 13. Students explore pathway options including university, art foundation, drama school, studies abroad, apprenticeships, gap years, industry experience, direct entry to employment and other routes.
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Students are supported by
Guidance is provided on all
specialist teachers to research
elements of preparation,
pathways, gain subject
including performance auditions,
immersion, complete applications
art portfolio prep, and academic
and write personal statements.
interviews.
Applicants for Oxbridge and other aspirational universities are offered additional support including a subject specialist mentor, aptitude test revision, and mock interviews with external academics. Students applying to the US and other overseas institutions are also coached with their applications, whilst CV and gap year planning advice is
Some students have continued
provided for students applying
their studies overseas at
for employment or other
institutions such as the University
opportunities.
of Toronto, Parsons Paris, Northeastern University, the
KAS students successfully
University of Amsterdam, and NYU.
progress to a variety of routes. Our graduates have gone on to
Students also opt to follow direct
a range of UK universities and
pathways into training and
higher education institutions
employment including music
including Oxford, Cambridge,
production industry experience,
Imperial College London,
photography assistant work
Central Saint Martins, the Royal
experience, working as a
Central College of Speech and
teaching assistant at a forest
Drama, the University of
school, pursuing culinary arts
Edinburgh, the University of
opportunities, and various
Bristol, and the University of
travelling and volunteering
York.
activities.
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SCHOOL SIX Student voice is a crucial part of all aspects of school life, with the student body actively involved in the decision-making process. School Six is one of the main channels through which this is achieved. It is comprised of student representatives who act as the point of liaison between students and teachers, with the goal of enhancing the KAS experience. School Six representatives often have the opportunity to report to Council (the school’s governing body) on the student experience and provide feedback to senior leaders on decisions that impact learners. Everyone is invited to input into School Six, giving our young people the chance to develop key leadership and team-building skills, as well as gaining confidence and a greater sense of contribution and responsibility.
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“As the goto point between students & teachers, we do our best to improve the school for everyone” School Six reps
KAS CONNECTED One of the hallmarks of KAS is how our education prepares young people for life beyond school. To support this, we have developed an online platform called KAS Connected. This connects Old Alfredians (our name for former students) from across the generations with not only one another but also the current community of parents, staff and students. 12
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The KAS Connected website provides a space to: post work experience
upload business or professional
placements, internship
services to the KAS Directory,
opportunities and job openings;
expanding members’ professional networks;
offer advice and mentoring, and share experiences of higher
connect with Old Alfredians,
education choices and pathways;
whether communicating with old classmates or making new
extend job searches for those
friendships.
looking for a new role;
KAS Connections Connections is a series of talks organised by our Old Alfredian and Development Office. Taking place every half term, they offer advice on careers, Higher Education choices, and life beyond KAS.
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Speakers are invited to present to
We also host an annual forum
Sixth Formers, allowing current
discussion as part of Connections.
students to connect with Old
Open to both current students
Alfredians studying and working
and Old Alfredians, each forum
across multiple sectors. Past
focuses on a particular industry.
Connections talks have covered
Previous instalments have
digital media, finance, law,
included a Creative Industries
getting into medicine and ‘The
Forum and Inside the Industry:
Good Gap Year’.
Working in Film.
FINAL THOUGHTS By embedding co-curricular activities and progression opportunities firmly in the core curriculum, we create deeper learning experiences that enable children and young people to thrive at school and beyond. Our approach is all about supporting students to be selfreliant, compassionate and endlessly curious – ultimately helping them to reach their goals and build the lives they want to lead.
“KAS offers so many experiences; it’s a place where you can learn in a fun way” Max, KAS student
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The King Alfred School 149 North End Road, London NW11 7HY kingalfred.org.uk @the_king_alfred_school @thekingalfredschool The King Alfred School