Drop Down Days are whole days when students are taken off their traditional timetable and given deep learning opportunities.
Aims of Enrichment and DDD’s at GFS
The aim of Enrichment and DDDs are to provide opportunities for students to develop in line with the values of GFS: Growth, Fellowship and Scholarship. In practice this means:
1. Growth: We will provide opportunities for students to work on and develop new skills and character traits
2. Fellowship: We will provide opportunities for students to work together and in teams to support others, overcome challenges and learn from failures
3. Scholarship: We will provide opportunities for students to engage in additional academic study of disciples not offered in the mainstream curriculum as well as targeted interventions for those students requiring additional support. In addition, students will work towards qualifications each year.
In order to achieve these aims, GFS will provide students with a broad range of well-planned and delivered opportunities which promote Growth, Fellowship and Scholarship. GFS staff, as well as external providers, will be responsible for delivering the opportunities and accountable for developing at least one of our key values in students who take part in their enrichment.
How do we measure the success of Enrichment and DDD’s?
In KS3 success will primarily be measured in terms of student outcomes against three qualifications. In KS3, each year-group will work towards a qualification which will form part of their GFS Cultural Passport. The table on the following page shows what qualifications they will work towards, and how the assessment of these will take place.
At the end of KS3, students will prepare for a matriculation ceremony whereby they will present on their development across the three years against the three values.
The Drop Down Day Timetables for this acedemic year are shown below:
Year 7 Drop Down Day Timetable 2015/16
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Date
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Title and brief description of DDD
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Friday 25th September
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Greenwich University visit - Students will experience University, many for the first time, on a trip organised in conjunction with our nearest University.
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Thursday 22nd October
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Model United Nations – Every student becomes a Nation as the whole year group grapples with four of the biggest issues of the day.
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Monday 9th November
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Geography – River study, details to follow.
or
History - This day will be used to provide Y7 students with an exciting experience linked to History that will take them beyond the curriculum.
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Wednesday 2nd December
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Performance – All Year 7 students will take part in a performance which they have been preparing for during after-school enrichments. Expect poetry, dance and music. Students will be assessed in line with the values of the school and given an overall grade. Parents will be invited to attend at a later date.
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Tuesday 19th January
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Geography –River Study, details to follow.
or
History - This day will be used to provide Y7 students with an exciting experience linked to History that will take them beyond the curriculum.
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Thursday 11th February
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Life Issues- Students will explore some of the key issues and concerns which they may have as they get older.
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Wednesday 2nd March
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Globe Theatre – An exciting opportunity for the whole of Year 7 to venture to Shakespeare’s old stomping ground and hear his fine scripts come to life.
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Tuesday 26th April
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Science Museum – A chance for pupils to consolidate their year of learning in science.
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Friday 27th May
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Sports Day – The Big One! Inter-House rivalry hits tipping point as all students compete in or support the school Sports Day.
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Wednesday 8th June
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RE/Art – What is the relationship between Religion and Art? How important is symbolism? Students take the opportunity to learn how symbolism has been used in the past, being creative in the process.
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Friday 15th July
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Debating – Students will learn the art of debating before going head to head with Houses for the Year 7 debate cup.
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Thursday 21st July
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Eisteddfod – The great cultural event of the year. Competing in Houses, students work on and practice an array of performances.
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Year 8 Drop Down Day Timetable 2015/16
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Date
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Title and brief description of DDD
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Friday 25th September
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Music – Students experience an array of musical opportunities as external musicians are invited in to showcase their talents and engage Year 8.
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Thursday 22nd October
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Life Issues - Students will explore some of the key issues and concerns which they may have as they get older.
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Monday 9th November
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Debating - Students will learn the art of debating before going head to head with Houses for the Year 8 debate cup.
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Wednesday 2nd December
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GFS Presentations – A new, internally recognised award. Students will have prepared an 8 minute presentation, will read to their class, will have learn a poem by memory and will have to actively engage in questions on a new topic. Students will be assessed in line with the values of the school and given an overall grade.
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Tuesday 19th January
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RE/Art - What is the relationship between Religion and Art? How important is symbolism? Students take the opportunity to learn how symbolism has been used in the past, being creative in the process.
|
|
Thursday 11th February
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Geography –Coastal visit, details to follow.
or
History - This day will be used to provide Y8 students with an exciting experience linked to History that will take them beyond the curriculum.
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Wednesday 2nd March
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Geography – Coastal visit, details to follow.
or
History - This day will be used to provide Y8 students with an exciting experience linked to History that will take them beyond the curriculum.
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|
Tuesday 26th April
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Greenwich University Visit - Students will experience University, many for the first time, on a trip organised in conjunction with our nearest University
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|
Friday 27th May
|
Sports Day - The Big One! Inter-House rivalry hits tipping point as all students compete in or support the school Sports Day.
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Wednesday 8th June
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Model United Nations - Model United Nations – Every student becomes a Nation at the whole year group grapples with four of the biggest issues of the day.
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Friday 15th July
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Science Field Trip – This day will be used to provide Y8 students with an exciting experience linked to Science that will take them beyond the curriculum.
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Thursday 21st July
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Eisteddfod - The great cultural event of the year. Competing in Houses, students work on and practice an array of performances.
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Year 9 Drop Down Day Timetable 2015/16
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Date
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Title and brief description of DDD
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Friday 25th September
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Science trip to Thorpe Park – Students will visit Thorpe Park, to both enjoy the attractions but also to explore different types of motion and force in action.
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Thursday 22nd October
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Citizens UK/Barclays – In collaboration with Citizens UK and Barclays PLC, students will explore how to effectively change Society and how to best present themselves in a professional environment.
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Monday 9th November
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Mind-Set – What makes the difference: ability or hard work? Is it more important to be a team player or bloody-minded? We will explore this as students set targets for their future.
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Wednesday 2nd December
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Life Issues - Students will explore some of the key issues and concerns which they may have as they get older.
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Tuesday 19th January
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Barclays/Financial Matters - In collaboration with Barclays PLC, students will explore how to best present themselves in a professional environment.
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Thursday 11th February
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Citizens UK/Barclays - In collaboration with Citizens UK and Barclays PLC, students will explore how to effectively change Society and how to best present themselves in a professional environment.
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Wednesday 2nd March
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University Visit – venue tbc.
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Tuesday 26th April
|
Geography – In School – Problem solving day.
or
History - This day will be used to provide Y8 students with an exciting experience linked to History that will take them beyond the curriculum.
|
|
Friday 27th May
|
Sports Day - The Big One! Inter-House rivalry hits tipping point as all students compete in or support the school Sports Day.
|
|
Wednesday 8th June
|
Geography – In School – Problem solving day.
or
History - This day will be used to provide Y8 students with an exciting experience linked to History that will take them beyond the curriculum.
|
|
Friday 15th July
|
University Visit – Venue tbc
|
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Thursday 21st July
|
Eisteddfod - The great cultural event of the year. Competing in Houses, students work on and practice an array of performances.
|
Year 10 Drop Down Day Timetable 2015/16
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Date
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Title and brief description of DDD
|
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Friday 25th September
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DofE - This day will be used to provide Y10 students with an exciting experience linked to DofE that will take them beyond the curriculum. Further details to follow.
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Thursday 22nd October
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Mind-Set - What makes the difference: ability or hard work? Is it more important to be a team player or bloody-minded? We will explore this as students set targets for Year 10 and beyond.
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Monday 9th November
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CORE DAY: ENGLISH This day will be used to provide Y10 students with an exciting experience linked to English that will take them beyond the curriculum. Further details to follow.
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Wednesday 2nd December
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Careers – Students will attend the ‘Big Careers Fair’ in Croydon before returning to school to think about which careers appealed to them and how they might get into them.
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Tuesday 19th January
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Barclays/Financial Matters - In collaboration with Barclays PLC, students will explore how to best present themselves in a professional environment.
|
|
Thursday 11th February
|
DofE - This day will be used to provide Y10 students with an exciting experience linked to DofE that will take them beyond the curriculum. Further details to follow.
|
|
Wednesday 2nd March
|
Life Issues - Students will explore some of the key issues and concerns which they may have as they get older.
|
|
Tuesday 26th April
|
CORE DAY: MATHS – This day will be used to provide Y10 students with an exciting experience linked to Maths that will take them beyond the curriculum. Further details to follow.
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Friday 27th May
|
Sports Day - The Big One! Inter-House rivalry hits tipping point as all students compete in or support the school Sports Day.
|
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Wednesday 8th June & Saturday 11th June
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DofE - This day will be used to provide Y10 students with an exciting experience linked to DofE that will take them beyond the curriculum. Further details to follow.
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Friday 8th July
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CORE DAY: SCIENCE – Walk through internally standardised assessment.
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Friday 15th July and Saturday 16th July
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DofE – External - This day will be used to provide Y10 students with an exciting experience linked to DofE that will take them beyond the curriculum. Further details to follow.
|
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Thursday 21st July
|
Eisteddfod - The great cultural event of the year. Competing in Houses, students work on and practice an array of performances.
|