SECONDARY PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

» Enrichment Opportunities
» Duke of Edinburgh's Award
» Building and Defining Student Character
» Personal Development in Year 11
» Year 10 Extended Schools Curriculum

ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES

We offer an extensive extra-curricular programme including a range of after school and lunch time clubs. The activities on offer include sports clubs, gym sessions, gardening club, arts and crafts activities, music clubs and many more. Our activities take place in our specialist facilities, including our Music recording studios, the Drama theatres, the 3D football pitch and ICT suites. Click here for further information on our extra-curricular activities (Secondary phase).

We believe that educational visits are an important part of developing a broad and rich experience and we offer many exciting trips to all our students. These include local area visits during Geography lessons, trips to the theatre, trips to places of historical importance around the UK, and visits to universities and colleges. We offer students residential trips around the UK, international skiing trips and trips further afield to the USA. We also offer worldwide expeditions with World Challenge, this year a group of students will be trekking in Nepal. Check out our news and event pages here (Secondary phase) for details and information about past and recent activities.

Duke of Edinburgh's Award

We are committed to providing students with a broad and rich set of experiences and offer the Bronze Duke of Edinburgh's Award to students in Years 9 and 10. Please visit here for further information.

Building and Defining Student Character

At AVA we are committed to helping our students develop the habits, skills and mindset needed to succeed into the next stages of their lives. We do this through our extensive enrichment programme and by inviting visitors and specialists into the school to run talks and workshops. Examples include talks from university professors, ancient History workshops, Positively Mad revision workshops, personal trainers, Army bootcamps, African drumming workshops and many more.

Our aim is for our students to develop into respectful, resilient and aspirational young people and we encourage our students to participate positively in all aspects of the school community.

Our Year 11 prefects carry out a variety of leadership roles, including break and lunch duty and leading assemblies. Thay are assigned to each department being Subject Ambassadors. The prefects are students selected for their outstanding attitudes and act as role models to the other students.

Charity

This year the students are supporting the World Challenge Fundraising group as well as Anthony Nolan, supporting people with blood cancer.

Personal development in Year 11

In Year 11 we follow a bespoken personal development route during tutor time to support and prepare our students for their future. Working closely with Positively MAD to support students with their mental health. Study Higher to educate the students on the different pathways they can follow and understand career options available to them. All students are offered a careers appointment through Adviza and an opportunity to visit a careers fair. At the start of the year we invite all students on a team building day to Operation Encounter where the students partake in a variety of team-building exercises.

Year 10 Extended School's Curriculum

In year 10 students follow a programme of curriculum activities and independent study as part of an extended school day from Monday to Thursday each week.

Students have access to a broad range of extended school's activities to explore, develop and master in new or existing skill areas of interest beyond the core curriculum such as Latin, Debate Club, Jewellery Making, Volunteering in the Community and becoming certified Sports Leaders.

By encouraging challenge, creativity, positive physical and mental wellbeing and social interaction we provide a platform for students to develop their character and widen their opportunities and skillset both during their education and as lifelong learners.