Co-Curricular Book 2023-2024

b v g s c oc u r r i c u l a r

2 0 2 32 4

Developing character and promoting civic responsibility, kindness and thoughtfulness

Dear Parents, Carers and Students,

This booklet represents the incredible range and depth of clubs and societies on offer over the course of the year 2023-24, from sport and music, to creative and academic. It will provide parents and students with the opportunity to select their options for the next Academic Year (September 2023).

The options section is included at the back of this booklet. In response to student feedback, we have modified our offer for the academic Year 2023/224, whilst maintaining many of the activities that have proven to be popular in the first year of Co-curricular. Please take the opportunity to read about all options before making your selections!

PICK TWO OPTIONS FROM LIST 1 AND LIST 2:

Academic Enrichment/Super Curricular - encapsulates all those activities that foster academic endeavour beyond the measurable outcomes of examination results. "Super-curricular participation can enhance your personal statement, give you greater confidence in your subject choice, show that you are serious about your area of study, and give you a wealth of ideas to draw upon in discussions if you’re invited to interview." (University of Cambridge)

Community & Participation Activities - This element of our CoCurricular offer provides students with the opportunity to participate in altruistic projects that benefit the School or wider community. In addition students can select options that provide them with the opportunity to participate in activities that are not readily available to students outside of School.

Students will be asked to select two choices from each list and submit their 4 options electronically by 6pm on Monday, 26th June. The form can be found at the back of the booklet.

Why is BVGS offering a Co-curricular Programme?

The ultimate goal of the Co-Curricular Programme is to underpin the vision that shapes student life at Bishop Vesey's Grammar School, namely, ‘Inspiration and Excellence.’ We want our students to engage in scholarship that promotes the acquisition of knowledge and a lifelong love of academia.

In addition, we want students across the School, to have the opportunity to develop their character through participating in altruistic activities that promote civic responsibility, kindness and thoughtfulness.

Moreover, the participation in such activities will engender a confidence and resilience that prepares them for life beyond BVGS, whilst providing students with a unique opportunity to work collaboratively with students from other Year Groups.

Finally, we want to cultivate leadership potential. All activities will be supported by Sixth Form students and students from all years will be encouraged to take ‘the lead on certain sessions.

How will our Co-Curricular offer fit alongside our existing extra-curricular provision?

Note that our Co-Curricular Programme will supplement our existing Extra-Curricular provision and where an extra-curricular activity is planned for 2023-24, students, will be expected to attend these sessions.

Our Thursday, Week 2, Period 6 is referred to as ‘Co’ rather than ‘Extra’ Curricular, for it forms a core part of the Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School experience, not just an extra only for those who are interested. It is a compulsory element of the curriculum for years 7-12. Through the activities on offer pupils need to show varying degrees of confidence, resilience and service, which are central elements to our ‘Character Education’ programme.

Dates for Co –Curricular for 2023/24

(pick two from this list)

8 9 10

This is an opportunity to have fun and be creative! In Art Club I plan to tap into your interests and allow you to turn your hand to new and exciting ways of making artwork. Not only will you be able to extend your existing skills, but you will also be exposed to a range of new media, techniques and processes that will broaden your horizons. Whether you simply enjoy the subject or are destined for GCSE Art, this club won't disappoint.

Further, your ceramic knowledge and skills make and glaze your work!

• Use evidence from contextual sources; images and artist to develop your own ceramic sculptures.

• Develop technical skills of ceramic building to construct your chosen form.

Activity 1- Personalised clay hanging. Learning new clay processes and glaze your work.

Activity 2 - Make a 3-D form; Autumn term is a clay pumpkin, Spring term is a Valentine's rose.

CLASSICS AND MODERN FOREIGN LANGUAGES

Catalan is a Romance language which evolved from Latin, just as Spanish, French, Italian, Romanian and Portuguese, to name a few. It is spoken by around 10 million people, mainly in Spain, but also in Andorra, where it’s the only official language, and in a city called Alghero in the island of Sardinia, Italy.

9 10 11 L6

If you like languages, Catalan is a unique one to learn, and if you have studied other Latin languages it will be relatively easy to learn! Through these sessions you can learn all about Catalan culture too, from art, history, football, music, traditions and festivals etc.

Latin

7 8 9 10 11 L6

Our Introduction to Latin short course will introduce you to the basic principles of Classical Latin. It provides a firm basis of pronunciation, grammar, sentence structure and vocabulary of the language. This will equip you with the basic skills to translate Latin into English. Alongside a basic vocabulary, you will learn how Classical Latin can help you better understand the English language and other romance languages such as Italian, French and Spanish.

German Club

7 8 9 10

Italian for Beginners

10 11 L6

We will learn the basics of German so that we are able to conduct simple everyday activities (ordering food and drink/buying train tickets) as well as initiating and maintaining a conversation. We would also look at the history and geography of the country with a particular emphasis on reunification (3rd October), the Berlin Wall (9th November) and the Holocaust (27th January).

Maybe you plan on travelling to Italy and want to have a basic chat with the locals or order food? Perhaps you have studied Spanish and/or French and want to see how you get on with another Romance language? Perhaps you plan on doing Italian at University or maybe you simply wish to add another skill to your CV/UCAS application? Whatever your reason-this introductory course will give you a grasp of the basics of the Italian language with a focus on conversational skills rather than in-depth grammar but it will also serve as a starting point for you to further your own studies if you so wish. You will be able to hold simple conversations, understand common vocabulary that is used in social and public situations and get a basic understanding of how to manipulate language to serve your personal needs.

10 11 L6

Students will have the opportunity to practise the SPEAKING aspect of the French and Spanish GCSE exam.

French and Spanish Speaking Club

Introduction to Modern Greek

7 8 9 10 11 L6

Urdu Speaking for Beginners

7 8 9 10 11 L6

Modern Greek is the language spoken by people living in modern day Greece and Cyprus. It is a language with a very rich history, having evolved from Classical, New Testament and Medieval Greek. In this short course, you will learn about the alphabet, pronunciation and some of the basic grammar and vocabulary of the language, with a view to developing elementary conversational skills. This includes learning how to introduce yourself and your family members, count to 100, and build short sentences. In addition, you will get an overview of Greek history, geography, traditions and culture and how these have influenced other languages and cultures around the world.

This is an exciting opportunity for you to learn how to speak and understand a new language which isn't typically offered in a lot of schools. It will allow you to explore a different culture and broaden your communication skills which may boost your career opportunities later in life as there are over 160 million Urdu speakers in the world in over 26 countries! Urdu is considered one of the most polite and courteous languages of the world and with it being lyrical and poetic you will also get the chance to understand dialogues and songs from the Bollywood film industry!

DIGITAL

Cipher Challenge

10 11 L6

Students will meet every Thursday to learn about codes, ciphers and cryptograms and then take part in a competition to break codes and decipher messages to solve a problem. You will start by looking at Caesar wheels, affine shift ciphers and frequency analysis and move on to more complex codes & ciphers. This competition is a great way to make use of your Mathematics and Computing skills and to build problem solving and team working skills. The club will run from September to February and the competition runs from October to January. The University of Southampton runs the National Cipher Challenge.

7 8 9

F1 in Schools

10 L6

10 11

ENGINEERING

Engineering is the process of creating and building structures, products, and systems by using maths and science. You will need to think strategically and creatively to solve a range of engineering challenges. As well as applying your scientific knowledge, you will develop your team working skills to design and build structures such as towers, bridges and aircraft.

The F1 in schools challenge sees teams from schools across the world competing to be the best.

Teams are made up of groups of 6 pupils who design, engineer, race and market their racing team. Pupils will engage in a range of activities including looking for sponsorship and marketing their team, engineering a car to a detailed list of technical requirements, Project management, graphical design and will also need to write a business plan and pitch their team to a panel of judges in regional qualifications, which if successful can see them competing in national or even international competition.

Academic Competition: F1 in Schools

Welcome to the Electronics Club! Our club is a dynamic and interactive platform that aims to ignite a passion for electronics among students.

In the Electronics Club, you'll learn practical skills that will enhance your understanding of electronics and boost your creativity. Through hands-on projects and experiments, you'll gain proficiency in circuit design, soldering, programming microcontrollers, and problem-solving. You'll have the chance to build your own electronic devices, such as amplifiers, radios, electronic games, and automation systems.

Beyond technical skills, our club also fosters teamwork and collaboration. You'll have the opportunity to work in groups, brainstorm ideas, and solve problems collectively. This will improve your communication, critical thinking, and problem-solving abilities, which are valuable skills for both academic and professional pursuits.

Join us in the Electronics Club, where curiosity meets innovation, and together, we'll unlock the endless possibilities of electronics!

Creative Writing Club

7 8 9 10

KS3 Book Club

7 8 9

Shakespeare in Performance

7 8 9 10 11 L6

Creative writing club will offer students the chance to let their imaginations run free and develop their descriptive and narrative writing skills. With a number of exciting writing competitions such as Connell Guides Short Story Competition, BBC 500 words plus many more, this club will provide students with the opportunity to enter a range of competitions and showcase their creativity.

Academic Competitions: Connell Guides Short Story Competition & BBC 500 words

You'll be provided with a chosen book to read over the fortnight. Come to the co-curricular session ready to discuss. Did you love it? Hate it?Did you empathise with the characters?What questions did it leave you with?What would you like to ask the author?Join in if you love to read and talk about books.

To join or not to join? That is the question! This short course will involve studying Shakespeare in performance as we act out key scenes in preparation for a short showcase at the end. Enthusiasm and a willingness to learn lines are prerequisites, but do not be concerned if you have not done much acting before. Get ready to see Britain’s most famous playwright in a whole new light as we bring some of his most famous scenes to the stage.

EPQ

Hidden Histories

7 8 9 10 11 L6

Do you want to explore the past beyond what you've learned in History lessons? We've added lots of diverse History to lessons in the last few years, but there's a lot more we don't have time to cover. Maybe you want to find out more about precolonial Africa and Asia? About the Maroon societies that formerly enslaved people created all over the Americas having escaped from slavery? Or Indian Independence and Partition? Oscar Wilde and Alan Turing and the discrimination and prejudice they faced? Maybe Ghanaian or Nigerian independence movements, or the History of Apartheid in South Africa? The Haitian Revolution? The Song Dynasty in China? More about Black Tudors? Or how women like Catherine the Great, Eleanor Aquitaine or Marie Curie rose above sexism and misogyny to achieve such great things. This is your chance to explore the events, people and places that have been marginalised from History, and to share your passion with others. This will help develop your independent research skills, improve ability to communicate your ideas and research to others, challenge stereotypes and reveal hidden stories from the past, while demonstrating your passion for History.

This will also be your chance to plan and take part in organising Black History Month and LGBTQ+ History Month events in schoolassemblies, form activities, competitions, food stalls etc. Academic Competition There will also be a chance to enter the Historical Association's 'Write your own Historical Fiction' Competition

Are you curious about the world? Do you want to understand more about why we interact with it in the way we do? If so, GeogSoc is the perfect place for you! GeogSoc is an opportunity for students to go beyond the curriculum and study interesting areas of Geography by themselves and as a group.

GeogSoc

7 8 9

Broaden your understanding of the world around by engaging with ‘Geography in the News’, Geoquizzes and the Geographical Associations WorldWide Quiz, ‘Stop Disaster’, documentaries and debates as to how we should tackle some of the world’s most pressing and contemporary geographical issues. You will even have the chance to send a flag to the Antarctic to be flown in Antarctica with a scientific researcher!

This is your chance to explore some of the world’s most pressing dilemmas and debates, gain an appreciation of alternative cultures and countries, improving both your independent research and group communication skills, whilst demonstrating your passion for Geography.

Competition Opportunity: UK Polar Network- Design a flag to be flown in the Antarctic https://polarnetwork.org/education-andoutreach/antarctica-day-2022/ Myths

8 9

Learn about Greek mythology, the gods and the stories and their relevance today. You will work independently and in teams to improve your critical thinking skills and communication. At the end of the course, you will have the chance to present to the rest of the group on one aspect of Greek mythology. The student who creates the best presentation will win £20 voucher.

MATHS

7

Strategic Planning Society

8* 9* 10 L6

*Year 8 and 9 students in top set Maths will also be able to participate

The Junior Problem Solving Club is a chance for students to really explore mathematical problems in detail and the different ways in which they can be approached. It will encourage mathematical reasoning, precision of thought, and fluency in using basic mathematical techniques to solve interesting problems. This is a club designed for enthusiastic year 7s and 8s who have a love of Maths.

Strategic planning exercises provide an opportunity for students to test their ability to apply mathematical knowledge to real world scenarios. One session you might be lost in the Alps having to decide whether to take a helicopter to base camp 1 to rescue a climber with a broken leg or to hike up to the summit to help a climber with altitude sickness. The next session you will be testing your ability to carry out accurate speed, distance, time, calculations to ensure you drive a bus of tourists on a safari to safety before nightfall. For each scenario, you will work as a team to come up with the best solution and present your decision the following week. The scenarios presented are taken straight from the British Army Officer Selection process and will help build teamwork, presentation skills, and logical thinking.

L6

9 10

Are you thinking of applying to Oxbridge or another university for a subject that requires you to take MAT, STEP or TMUA? If so, then come along to these problem solving sessions and improve your skills for tackling these types of problems.

This club aims to help students achieve highly on the Intermediate UKMT Maths Challenge into which all Year 9 and 10 students are entered each year. This will enable students to be more prepared for the style of questioning that is prevalent in the challenge and have better opportunities for progressing to the follow-on rounds, including the Intermediate Mathematical Olympiad which is taken by the top 1500 students nationally.

POLITICS

8 9 10 11 L6

If you've ever seen politics in the news and wondered what on earth was going on, then this society will make you a political pro. We will cover everything from how laws are made in Parliament to where a Prime Minister claims their power from, and from who the different parties are to why some ideas succeed and others fail. You will also get an understanding as to how each and every person can participate in political activity. We will look at different ideologies and interpretations of the world, and using resources such as the Politics Project and the Political Association we can apply for opportunities to meet and interact with politicians themselves. If you want to know how the world works, and how our country is run and what you can do to participate, and if you feel passionately about an issue and what to make an impact then this is the society for you!

SCIENCE

A great opportunity for students to develop their investigation skills in an interesting way. Things that we may look into are

1) Reducing energy bills

2) Double glazing – is it worth it?

3) How much does it cost to boil a kettle?

4) The schools energy consumption and ideas for conserving energy and saving money

9 10 L6

5) Investigating bridge strength

6) Survival in extreme cold

7) Investigating air pressure and the huge forces it can exert, These are just a few of the many things we could investigate. Your Ideas would be very welcome and maybe we could give them a go! Hopefully you will find our activities very enjoyable and at the same time you will become expert at investigation terminology and methods which will support you in your studies at school.

We will explore parts of astronomy and astrophysics beyond what you study in the curriculum at school. This is particularly ideal for prospective or current A-level Physics students (Y10-Y12). This will include using modern digital simulations, visits/talks in conjunction with Birmingham University, lab-based experiments (we will use telescopes weather/light permitting), and some research.

Academic Competition: The club will also prepare students to enter the Junior/Senior British Astronomy Olympiad competitions - a competition in which the school has had national success recently.

Science in the media will look at students developing their curiosity in Science in the world around them. We will look at articles of interest in the news and develop our analysis and enquiry skills to debate the topic and the issues that surround it.

10 11 L6

Science Crest Award 7

The Crest Superstar award requires students to complete a number of hands on, practical Scientific activities. It will enhance students ability to think critically through designing and carrying out different experiments and will build their independent Scientific investigate skills. It will allow students to think and develop as Scientists. The CREST award is recognized nationally and successful completion will result in a reward certificate.

Community & Participation Activities (pick two from this list)

8 9 10 11 L6

Do you want to empower young people, increase your knowledge on various medical and psychological topics, become a confident presenter, and be involved in supporting your local community and localities wider?

Joining this outreach project will see you achieve all of the above and much more. A variety of topics linked to the body both physically and mentally will be researched and put together by you and your team, to form effective and inspiring lessons, which will then be delivered by you to local primary and/or secondary schools. For example, researching about the condition SEPSIS, making a lesson based on your findings and then delivering this content to a group of young people will be one of the tasks set. This will not only increase your knowledge on important conditions but will also help support young people in our community.

Accredited courses will be obtained if commitment to the programme is shown e.g. possibility of being a first aid trainer. Lessons that are missed due to involvement in the programme must be caught up on otherwise your place will be given to someone else.

7 8 9 10 11 L6

We will offer a community choir activity. Participants will have the opportunity to improve their singing skills and learn new songs while working together in a team. This activity will enhance participants' teamwork and civic service skills. While not directly linked to careers, participating in a community choir can help build confidence and public speaking skills. Concerts/trips will be offered as part of this activity

The aim of this activity will be to provide support, advice and assistance with the 11+ Examination to encourage children from a variety of backgrounds to apply for our school. The first term will focus primarily on writing the material which can be used in the second term to deliver online and face-to-face sessions to children in Year 5. Participants will develop their leadership and communication as well as having the experience of being involved with an innovative project. They will also learn tuition skills which may be invaluable in future years, with increasing numbers of students offering private tuition to supplement their incoming during their time in Further Education and the ability to teach people new skills being important in any line of work.

7 8 9

Some of the big issues of our time include climate change, war and injustice. At Schools Speak Out you can demonstrate leadership, take part in Oxfam's latest campaigns and speak out about the issues that are keeping people trapped in poverty. You will learn more about these global issues and you will take action in school and in the local community and make a difference in the wider world. Some of the topics you will work on include calling for climate justice, raising awareness of sustainable fashion, campaigning for peace in Yemen and investigating the human cost of the global food supply chain.

7 8 9 10 11 L6

British Sign Language, or BSL for short, is the preferred language for deaf people in the UK and further afield. By studying this beginners guide, you will build a strong foundation to allow you to progress to Level 1 certification. We will focus on finger spelling, numbers, colours, locations and simple phrases to start you on you BSL journey and allowing you to start conversing with someone you may not have been able to before. We will also look at what it is like to be a deaf person in the UK. BSL is also a recognised qualification for the bronze and silver D of E awards and, when studied at a higher level, can lead to amazing career opportunities in industries fro education to health and even on TV!

DEBATING

8 9 10 11 L6

Practical Cooking Skills for Life

L6

In this society, you will develop your public speaking skills and ability to construct logical arguments. You will have the opportunity to represent BVGS in local and national competitions. In our regular meetings, we will debate a variety of contemporary issues including: governmental policies, questions of morality and ethics, and even conspiracy theories. It is a great way to develop your knowledge of current events, and also improve your confidence.

FOOD

Practical cooking skill for year 12 pupils, this is an opportunity to learn some essential cooking skills, learn to cook a range of dishes both sweet and savoury so that you can feed yourself when the time comes!

School Newspaper

7 8 9 10 11 L6

The dishes will give you transferable cooking skills, which will enable you to cook a wide range of meals; a skill which we know will lead to a healthier lifestyle and will save you lots of money

JOURNALISM

The BVGS school newspaper will provide students with an opportunity to organise and design their own articles and content that will then be published to the wider school community There will be two publications per rotation and this will allow students to develop a range of skills including written and verbal communication, editing and collaborative working

MEDIA

Take the opportunity to develop your knowledge around the world of the film industry. Focusing on the Marvel collection this option will allow you to review each of the films, and provide a thorough insight into the technology, the revenue and all other elements that go into creating such films. This programme will enable you to create a detailed presentation reviewing the film content, technology, characters etc. and provide you with an opportunity to showcase your presentation skills to a panel of judges. Culture Club

11 L6

7 8 9

Gardening and Botany Club

7

Culture Club will look at areas such as high art and literature; film and music; fashion and luxury products; travel and cars; gaming and their narratives; even cuisine, and how it can be can be considered in a critical, yet appreciative, manner. The objective is to develop our tastes of the arts and culture around us Culture Club will improve our knowledge with an aim to make our minds more distinguished and refined

PLANTS AND THE ENVIRONMENT

Students will have the opportunity to:

- Learn how to grow their own food

- Appreciate the importance of plants in society

- Apply key concepts from GCSE Biology

- Investigate the optimum growing conditions for agricultural and horticultural plants

Marvel Focused Media Studies Club

7 8 9 10 11 L6

Quizzing is great fun. The BVGS Quiz Society exists to stimulate an interest in general knowledge and quizzing of all types. General knowledge is something that really helps us to grow both on personal as well as academic level. It stretches way beyond knowing the answers to trivia questions and quizzes. Being up-to-date on current affairs and basic knowledge in a variety of subjects and can make you a more sociable and successful person.

Being part of a Quiz Team provides you with a range of inter-personal skills, which will be applicable to a variety of professional and social situations; including the art of negotiation, collaboration and most significantly encourages wider reading and research in topics that fall beyond the confines of the School Curriculum. Students will have the opportunity to design and host quizzes as part of the ‘BVGS House Competition’. We also intend to host quizzes for local Primary Schools. All of these events will be planned and managed by the ‘BVGS Quiz Society’. The Society will also provide students with an opportunity to work collaboratively with students from other Year Groups.

Competitions: The BVGS Quiz Society will enter Teams in the Junior and Senior Schools Challenge. This is national general knowledge competition for Schools in the United Kingdom. It uses the same quiz bowl rules as University Challenge. Schools Challenge is divided into Senior and Junior competitions. The School also enters a Sixth Form Team in the annual ‘Lord Mayors Mega Quiz’, hosted at the University of Birmingham.

7 8 9 10

Based on MENSA questions, students work in year groups/house groups and work through series of questions The results will contribute towards the House System, and also awards the students/groups merits Opportunity to challenge students with logical and reasoning questions that they can work on collaboratively or independently which will build their resilience and determination.

This opportunity is for students who already know how to play Sudoku or those who are interested to learn how Students will not only just solve puzzles but also be introduced to other variations of Sudoku thus developing their problem solving skills. Students will also share and discuss different methods to attempt to solve the puzzles allowing time for both individual puzzle solving as well as collaborating and sharing their thought processes with others.

Brainteaser Challenge

Sudoku Club

Chess Club

7 8 9 10 11 L6

Chess is undoubtedly the world’s greatest game. Chess is proven to improve cognitive skills such as concentration, pattern recognition, decision-making, algebraic and geometric thinking, problem solving, spatial reasoning and critical thinking. It also increases your attention span and your memory capacity.

Bishop Vesey’s Chess Club is open to players of all abilities. Whether you are an absolute beginner or an experienced player, you will be very welcome. We will provide opportunities for you to enjoy the game however you want to. We will be entering and running competitions for those who want to participate but there will be many friendlies too.

“The beauty of chess is it can be whatever you want it to be. It transcends language, age, race, religion, politics, gender, and socioeconomic background. Whatever your circumstances, anyone can enjoy a good fight to the death over the chess board.” GM Simon Williams

Competitions: both inter and intra School.

7 8 9 10 11 L6

Board Games club will offer an opportunity to play a variety of board games. These can be chosen by the students and vary week by week. It will help them with problem solving, sequential thinking, team work and develop positive social interaction.

7 8 9 10 11

Do you want to go on a journey around the world without leaving the classroom? Work against the clock to beat the opposing team by picking up on visual clues on Google Street View such as flags, landmarks and written signs to see if you can pinpoint exactly where you are in the world.

Warhammer

7 8 9 10 11 L6

Warhammer is a tabletop battle game which puts players in command of armies of valiant humans, noble elves, savage orcs or a variety of twisted and monstrous creatures. Players collect forces of miniature plastic models, all with different stats and abilities, and use them to play out clashes on a tabletop battlefield. Unlike a board game, where players’ moves are restricted to defined areas, Warhammer commanders freely manoeuvre their units set distances using rulers and resolve shooting and hand-to-hand combat by rolling dice. The Warhammer society will cater for novices and experienced players. Come and join the fun!

Knitting and Crocheting

8 9 10 11 L6

7 8

Running Club

7 8 9 10 L6

SPORT AND WELLNESS

Learn how to Knit or Crochet. There are many benefits to knitting and crocheting, they include:

1. MINDFULNESS AND RELAXATION

2. COMMUNITY BUILDING

3. CREATIVE EXPRESSION

4. MENTAL STIMULATION

5. IMPROVED DEXTERITY

Have you played all the “usual” sports but found they don’t suit your eye? Do you enjoy physical activity and challenge? Why not give golf a go!

We are offering the first stage of learning the game of golf, TriGolf. Tri-Golf is a fun and energetic version of golf that is perfect for young aspiring golfers as they hit targets with their first golf shots.

Tri-Golf is a genuinely inclusive sport as it suits players of all abilities; but it is particularly great starting point for those new to the game. In the sessions you will learn the fundamentals of golf. How to swing a club, how to putt whilst at the same time playing a series of fun practice games both as individuals and in teams. If you have never played golf before but are curious to give it a try, this is perfect for you! Who knows, this could be your first steps into becoming a Tour professional?

The course will cover warming up, healthy eating, suitable kit, personal aims and objectives and safety talk. Initial fitness will be assessed on site (hill sprints, bleep test, etc.) to support realistic aims and objectives. Subsequently, the main activity will be based about a run in Sutton Park with two routes of differing length to support runners of varying ability. Our aim will be to encourage increased participation in the Great Midlands Fun Run in June 2023.

Tennis Club

Tennis Club will be an opportunity for students who have some (but not necessarily lots of) experience of playing tennis. It is for any students in KS3 (Year 7, 8 and 9) and potentially KS4 (Year 10 & 11) depending on numbers. It will allow for an opportunity to play some doubles tennis and also some other games/training on the tennis courts that develop the skills required to play the game.

9 10 11

9 10 11 L6

7 8 9 10 11 L6

The school can provide racquets and balls but if you have your own equipment, you are welcome to bring it. We will try to keep numbers to a maximum of 16 per session to ensure that everybody can be involved for the full hour. If you are a fan of tennis and want to play with and against your peers to improve your skills and technique this may well be the club for you. It can supplement any tennis sessions that you have in Games lessons in School.

Boxercise is a popular fitness trend based on the training concepts boxers typically use to kip fit. This option is run by two members of Staff who have backgrounds in personal training and MMA. There is no body contact so do not be alarmed, instead you will train with a variety of boxing moves and techniques that will provide a calorie burning workout suitable for all abilities. Besides the fact that boxing is a great form of cardio, there are many other benefits too. Boxercise, workouts are also great for improving motor skills, balance, reaction time, and overall agility as you engage hand eye co-ordination in both hands.

This new sporting Club is available to students in Years 9 & 10. This Club is only open to students who don't currently represent the School in one of its Sports Teams. We would like to give more students the opportunity to represent BVGS in Team Sports. The 'Basketball Club' will aim to develop key skills including Dribbling, Shooting, Defence, Rebounding and Passing.

Indoor Rowing will enable students to combine their strength, stamina and skill in order to prepare to compete at the National Junior Indoor Rowing Championships. Depending on the Year group (ideally all KS3/4 or 5) students will work on their individual goals. They will work on strategies and race-plans while perfecting their rowing technique. Part of the competition is a team relay. Students will need to learn to work together efficiently and effectively to improve their changeover times and they learn hoe to motivate each other at all times.

You have a unique opportunity to join the One Breath One Movement Programme. If you are looking for positive and fun activities that will help you focus, inspire self-discipline, have better relationships with your friends, perform better at school and sport, and become more positive every day - these sessions are for you. The sessions will be scaled to your abilities.

It is a multidimensional yoga-based programme to learn how to manage stress and reduce its negative impact on your mental and physical health. Through physical exercises and postures, breathing, relaxation, and meditation techniques you can develop selfregulatory skills known to correlate with improved academic and sport performance. The yoga sessions offer an innovative approach that includes a series of in class tutorials and talks as well as online resources which you can access at home in your spare time.

click here to tell us your top 4 favourite options (2

from each list)

If you have any questions regarding any aspect of the Co-Curricular provision, please email d.goodwin@bishopvesys.bham.sch.uk

What is EPQ?

The Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) is a Level 3 Advanced qualification, which is highly regarded by many universities. It is an independent research project completed during Y12. The choice of topic is entirely up to you: it can be an extension of your A Level studies or an area of personal interest outside your studies.

For example, if you study A Level Biology you may wish to extend the genetics module by looking into the religious impact of screening for genetic diseases. If you study A Level Economics, you might develop your knowledge of microeconomics by exploring how financial developments in football have altered the game during the 20th century.

Alternatively, if you are passionate about ethical treatment of animals and are interested in a career as a vet, you might examine the impact of zoos on animal conservation. If you are a keen environmentalist, you might research the effects of fracking on pollution.

With appropriate supervision, you will:

§ choose an area of interest;

§ draft a title and aims of your project for formal approval by school;

§ plan, research and carry out your project;

§ deliver a presentation to your peers;

§ provide evidence of all stages of project development and production.

Why choose EPQ?

The skills you develop whilst undertaking EPQ not only help improve your A Level performance but increase your confidence in terms of future study and career development. You will:

§ develop and apply decision-making skills,problem-solving skills, initiative and enterprise;

§ extend your planning, research, critical-thinking, analytical, synthesis, evaluation and presentation skills;

§ improve time management, notetaking, academic writing and referencing skills.

Many universities value EPQ highly and include it in their UCAS offers (it carries UCAS points equivalent to half an A Level). You can refer to EPQ in your UCAS personal statement and at interview to demonstrate some of the qualitiesthat universities are looking for.

The University of Southampton believes project qualifications such as the EPQ offer an "unparalleled introduction to the skills needed for students to thrive in Higher Education”. (University of Southampton)

“Working on an EPQ encourages students to develop research and academic skills relevant to undergraduate study”. (University of Oxford)

How is EPQ delivered?

EPQ is an independent research project, which should take approximately 120 hours to complete. Within these hours, you will take part in a programme of Taught Skills, which will help equip you with the skills you need to complete the project, such as research methods, academic writing and referencing. You will also have timetabled lessons which take place in the ‘Co-Curricular’ slot, with an EPQ Supervisor who will help guide you through the process. The bulk of the work will be done independently.

What will I need to produce?

The three P’s of EPQ are the Product, the Presentation and the Production Log.

Product: you will either write a 5000 word research report OR create an artefact (together with a shorter written research report).

Presentation: you will design and deliver a presentation to a non-specialised audience (EPQ peers and your supervisor).

Production Log: you will complete a diary-style Production Log which provides evidence of your EPQ journey. We use an internet based system called Project Q to complete this.

What kind of thing do students choose to research?

Titles of previous written research reports include:

§ How has politics influenced football in Spain in the 20th Century?

§ Should the number of cycles of IVF currently offered by the NHS be standardised nationally?

§ Has elite sport in South Africa had a significant impact in integrating polarised societies following the 1995 Rugby World Cup?

§ Did selfishness in Wall Street cause the 2008 recession?

§ To what extent is sleep deprivation a risk factor of dementia?

§ How can technology be used to improve water supply for those living without access to clean water?

Titles of previous artefact projects include:

§ A poem for children in the style of Dr Seuss

§ A book of recipes for university students

§ Create a remotely-controlled Bluetooth camera for less than £50

§ How to raise £1000 for a local charity

§ A modern day retelling of Shakespeare’s “The Winter’s Tale”

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