Wardle High School - Deep Learning Day

Deep Learning Day - Year 7 students who have just began their pledges

Last half term, students and staff at Wardle High School have taken part in the first of five Deep Learning Days planned for this academic year.

Deep Learning Days aim to encourage students to develop their wider world skills and techniques. This will then support future learning and roles, equipping students to compete in the ever changing economic world we live in.

By developing these skills, qualities and approaches to study, Wardle High School is educating the whole student in preparation for life experiences and challenges.
The day also aimed to encourage Social, Moral, Spiritual and Cultural development (SMSC).

Students were taught in Year groups for the day, with the following activities available:
Year 7 – Pledges On the day Year 7 students were introduced to the Passport to Success Scheme which was developed to encourage all students at Wardle High to become fully engaged and involved in the full richness on offer in school life beyond the classroom.

This is a new initiative for pupils at Wardle High and all students will work towards achieving their Passport to Success during their time at the school.

Passport to Success helps to ensure that students will leave school as fully-rounded individuals with a broad and varied range of skills and experiences that can be celebrated with future employers, universities, colleges and later in life.

To receive their Passport all students are expected to achieve pledges. The Pledges are designed to ensure that by the time children leave Wardle High School, along with their formal qualifications, they will have developed other skills, qualities and attributes that will enable them to be successful in any walk of life.

The Pledges’ range from the Leadership Pledge where students will have undertaken duties as a Student Receptionist to the Charities Pledge where Pupils will have raised money for two charities by the end of Year 7.

Year 8 – Dragons ( Enterprise, Business and Presentation) The Year 8 Deep Learning experience focused on creative response, team skills, communication and presentation skills.

The day was run by CragRats Company and involved students taking part in an exercised based on BBC’s Dragon Den. Students were to invent and design their own product, taking control of everything from marketing to financial planning! The day ended with students pitching their ideas to ‘the dragons’ including Deputy Head Mr. Hesketh.

Year 9 – Curriculum Enrichment (English, Maths, PE and Technology) The Year 9 day aimed to enrich the curriculum of students with the PE department planning a broad range of activities to encourage the development of SMSC, ranging from team building exercises to inventing new sports.

The Technology department encouraged students to reflect on the ‘Pop Art’ culture and how it has impacted on the design of day to day products. They then had to work in small groups to design a chair that is influenced by the culture.

The English department had a workshop with resident writer Helen Walsh, to encourage students to write from different points of view and perspective. 45 students also took a trip to the cinema to see Inception.

Meanwhile, the Maths department encouraged the use of maths exercises to solve a “whodunit” murder case.

Year 10 – Ethics Day (Humanities) Year 10 students were given presentations by several visitors who focused on issues relevant to their exams. All did presentations and had open q and a sessions.

1. CARISMA- this is a Manchester based Christian charity who work with gun crime and ethnic issues in Moss Side. They have been a leading force in reducing gun crime in the area and getting government policy to reflect the needs of the community. They talked to the pupils about conflict and how this can be resolved.

2. Elizabeth Parsons- from LIFE charity. These are a pro-life, anti abortion group. Elizabeth discussed with the pupils about the sanctity of life eg when does life start? Current government policy and the law on abortion. etc.

3. Pastor Luke Bryant - a former police officer of 10 years experience, he has since left the police and set up his own church in Liverpool. He discussed with the pupils about his role as a police officer and how it at times conflicted/linked to his faith. Discussed about his beliefs in God and how people can have a positive impact in the community by helping the 'needy/ less fortunate'.

4. Amber Dyer- a 'medium' from Manchester. She discussed with the pupils about her belief in the afterlife and her 'spiritual' beliefs and experiences.

Year 11 – Careers (Science) The Year 11 Deep Learning Day focused on careers. The students were assigned groups and attended 6 careers based sessions. The career speakers included representatives from Huddersfield University and Carillion Construction, and gave students a breadth of information covering various career paths.

In the afternoon, Year 11 students were taken to a Future First event at Rochdale Town Hall where they could visit various stalls and gain advice about their career choices. At the event there were representatives from several universities, colleges and forces. Advice stalls such as Connexions were also available.

Staff at the school valued the day with one Year 10 staff member saying “The event was useful for RS issues. When students returned to class they were discussing many of the issues raised. Hopefully this will lead onto their exams and further their awareness.”

A Year 11 student who took part in the career day said “This gave advice on what employees expect from workers and the hard work you need to put in to get there. It gives you an idea about the future and what to expect.”

Deputy Head, Mr Hesketh said: “I was absolutely overwhelmed by the response of our students to the tremendous range of opportunities provided to them by our brilliant staff.

"The day was packed full of examples of students developing skills which heightened their understanding of social, moral, spiritual and cultural issues. Overall, the day was a great success. Roll on Deep Learning Day Two on November 22.”