Learning new things in different ways
COMBERTON VILLAGE COLLEGE
Curriculum Extension Days are an annual event on the Comberton calendar and much anticipated by students.
Normal lessons are suspended for two days and all pupils in Years 7-11 are given the chance to learn something completely new. This year, for the first time, there was an environmental theme added to the sessions for Key Stage 3 students. Year 7 had a focus on becoming a global changemaker. They looked at various changemakers around the world, who had encountered a problem in their community and then came up with innovative solutions. They then tried to come up with their own solutions for environmental problems. We had solutions that looked at use of plastic in school and how to electrify aviation. Year 8 looked at future planning, first imagining what an ideal future would look like and then tried to work out what steps were needed to get there. Year 9 focused on the sixth mass extinction, watching Extinction: The Facts — a David Attenborough documentary and then created posters to help raise awareness of this issue. Traditionally Year 7 have had one day of science and one of PE and this year was no different. The science saw them take part in a murder mystery forensic event, while in PE there was a range of activities to try including gymnastics, squash, spikeball and dance. A highlight for Year 8 is the day trip to Walton-on-the-Naze to look at coastal erosion and its effects. They also enjoyed a morning with the MFL Department where pupils could choose between a variety of activities including learning capoeira, discovering ancient Italy, learning about Japanese language and culture and learning to play samba music — which was certainly the loudest activity! The afternoon sessions were devoted to learning about refugees in Cambridge and environmental matters. As well as their day of environmental and science activities, Year 9 had a day of maths, which included building some incredible models and origami shapes. Year 10 looked into the future with two days dedicated to preparing for the next steps. As well as the Careers Fair (see pages 8 and 9), they were given guidance of writing personal statements and learning strategies — study hacks — for their upcoming exams. They also began to work on their Key Stage 4 Computing skills using the iDEA course (Inspiring Digital Enterprise Award) in which they will gain badges for each digital competence they acquire. Year 11 students studying Creative Arts and or Engineering/Design worked on their GCSE practical assessment or worked towards other specific coursework targets.
The rest of the year group took part in a carousel of activities, including problem gambling, personal relationships, pPost-16 routes, exam and revision techniques, promoting well-being, emergency first aid and CPR and money management. Assistant Principal Nigel Carrick and Sally Newton, Head of PSHE, started off one morning with an important and sobering message about Sexual Harassment, before handing the stage to Scott Davies, a former professional footballer. His life had been blighted for more than 10 years by a gambling addiction. In an engaging 45 minutes, Scott walked the audience through his life story from his first pay packet as a footballer through his tortured years as a gambling addict to his eventual wake up call, trip to rehab and recovery. Mrs Newton said: “We are very grateful to Scott for sharing his experiences, and we can best thank him by not falling into the same destructive pattern that he did.”
CREATIVE MATHS: Year 9 created different shapes and patterns.
First-hand look at coastal erosion issues
WARNING: Scott Davies spoke about his gambling addiction.
Once had we arrived at Walton-on-the-Naze we changed our shoes to ones over the rip-rap to the bottom of the cliff and picked up a lump of grey clay. that we could get muddy. After that we set off to find the seawall and the He explained that it was London clay and that it’s insoluble, which means it groynes. doesn’t let water in. But our geography teacher got lost! We then started the long walk back up the cliff to get to the gabions. There Once we had found the seawall, we figured out that the reason it was there were only a few left that hadn’t eroded and split open spilling all their rocky was to protect the town behind it. As we were doing this a wave came and contents. hit the seawall, soaking our teacher. After filling in our booklets we went to Then we looked at the groynes, a the Naze tower to get them checked by few of them were broken and our teacher to see if we had done missing their planks. Our teacher enough to go to the shop. then said that the groynes stop Most of us were able to go straight longshore drift from happening. away, but some had to stay behind to Next, we went and looked at rip-rap. finish off. We all wanted to climb all over Once we had all got to the shop and rocks but weren’t allowed to. bought what we had wanted, we walked Suddenly we were asked “what’s back to the buses. We changed our that?” while the teacher pointed at shoes before we got on to the bus, as the cliff face. they were all muddy from walking. Only a few people knew the answer. Then we drove back to Comberton, with our feet sore from walking. It was an example of slumping and We all went home that day after having a the pupil who answered explained great day with the Geography how slumping was formed and what department! happens afterwards. SEASIDE INVESTIGATIONS: For Year 8 at Walton-on-the-Naze. Josh (8E) At this point the teacher climbed
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