West Buckland Creates Online Extra-Curricular Programme as Part of ‘Futureproofing’ Drive
IN these uncertain times, security and assurances seem ever more difficult to come by and yet area essential to our wellbeing and that of our children. Covid-19 has brought many difficulties and, amid the ever-shifting sands in a pandemic, has had us all clutching at certainties, reliability and routine, especially for our children.
West Buckland School have demonstrated time and again that they have the vision, resource and expertise to continue to provide an outstanding education whether that be online or face-to-face. Not only are they providing excellent online tuition for Lockdown #2 but have this time added a varied and challenging ECA (extra-curricular activity) programme into the mix – encouraging children away from their screens with a combination of physical, cerebral and fun activities that they can do at home.
Once again a full programme of online learning was up and running by the second day of lockdown #2 and, with smaller class sizes, the teachers are able to offer a bespoke experience despite the challenges of remote learning. A dedicated and agile IT team adapted to the challenges as they arose, so that teachers could share what was working and what was not and responded with solutions very quickly.
Staff are quick to notice the emotional and mental effects on students from the uncertainty and isolation, so the new
ECA programme, which includes a number of exciting challenges, have been put in place to maintain the feeling of belonging and competitiveness which forms part of the sport, music and drama at the school.
The challenges, set by the PE department include a weekly Skills Challenge; a ‘C’ Challenge – based on one of the school’s seven values of care, commitment, creativity, confidence, critical thinking, courage and curiosity; a ‘bubble challenge’ - for those 100 or so key worker children and boarders currently in school; and finally, a Surprise 5 – guess the mystery teacher!
Other ECA activities include a leadership course, run through our Combined Cadet Force, music workshops, art projects, online lectures and other academic extension activities.
Despite these innovative and ambitious additions to the online learning programme, the school does recognise that distance learning does not suit all students. The school’s smaller class sizes allow teachers to quickly identify a student who is not engaged. Using techniques such as group work or break-out rooms, teachers can spend time on a one-to-one or small group basis, shoring up understanding or trying a different way of teaching the topic.
In addition, our Personalised Learning department provides individual and small group sessions as well as homework clubs and fun computer sessions for literacy and numeracy. While we are in the online learning world, these approaches continue, so that students needing extra support get the contact and tools they need to thrive.
Staff and pupils alike are desperate to see their friends and colleagues and return to some kind of normality: a full sporting calendar, music concerts, art exhibitions and drama productions, as well as just the buzz of a busy and happy school. However, the world needs agility right now, as shown by the speed with which our outstanding scientists have developed three different vaccines against a disease that most of us had not heard of a year ago. West Buckland School has shown that agility: adapting to a full timetabled online education and developing an ECA programme to combat anxiety, isolation and screen overload. This seamless switching between face-to-face and online learning becomes second nature to our students, which certainly belies the work and effort behind the scenes to make it happen!