Service and Action Handbook by Oakham School

Service and Action in the Lower School An MYP Handbook

Service and Action in the IB “The aim of all IB programmes is to develop internationally minded people who, recognising their common humanity and shared guardianship of the planet, help to create a better and more peaceful world.”

Service and Action are key components of the IB philosophy of education. IB learners strive to be caring members of the community who demonstrate a personal commitment to service, and act to make a positive difference to the lives of others and to the environment. IB World Schools value service with others as an important way to engage in principled action across a range of overlapping local and global communities. Through responsible action, tightly connected with sustained inquiry and critical reflection, young people and adults can develop the kinds of attributes described by the learner profile that are essential for success in future academic pursuits and for adult life.

Service and Action in the IB Middle Years Programme (IB MYP) 2

With appropriate guidance and support, IB MYP students should, through their engagement with service as action:

• become more aware of their own strengths and areas for growth

• undertake challenges that develop new skills

• discuss, evaluate and plan student-initiated activities

• persevere in action • work collaboratively with others

• develop international mindedness through global engagement, multilingualism and intercultural understanding

• consider the ethical implications of their actions.

Service and Action at Oakham School Personal development through Service and Action has always been at the heart of Oakham’s Total Curriculum. Extending beyond the traditional classroom, our Service and Action Programme provides pupils with a range of opportunities to exercise innovation, teamwork and leadership skills. Our distinctive approach, which extends through all of the school years, includes the following:

EXPLORE (Yourself) in the Lower School Through a range of carefully selected activities that include the Form 1 Learning Camp, the Autumn Foodbank Challenge and Harvest Challenge, interhouse competitions, Planting Trees with the Woodland Trust, sponsored bikerides, walks and other challenges, and participation in “Think Global, Act Local” MYP Community Days.

DEVELOP (Your skills) in the Middle School Through participation in the Form 3 Camp, Form 3 Community Project*, Personal Project, Voluntary Action Programme, the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award or Combined Cadet Force (CCF), interhouse competitions and thematic Geography trips.

ENRICH (Others around you) in the Upper School Through the continuation of Voluntary Action, the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and CCF Programmes, participation in Creativity, Activity and Service provision for the IB Diploma students, which includes overseas work experience opportunities, India and Kenya trips in support of our charitable work there, Model United Nations, as well as carefully selected Biology and EVS field courses. *The MYP Community Project will be offered to our Form 3 students from the 2021/22 academic year

Oakham’s Total Curriculum Academic

Sport

Lower School Activities - EXPLORE

Middle School Activities - DEVELOP

CCF - Army

CCF - RAF

Activities

Upper School Activities - ENRICH

DofE - Walking, Cycling, Sailing, Canoeing, Rowing

Oakham Service

CA/PA

Service Activities - CONTRIBUTE

Voluntary Action

‘Think Global, Act Local’ IB MYP Community Days Each year between October and February, we organise a number of MYP Community Days for Forms 1 and 2 where pupils can focus on their service – exploring ways in which to embody the IB Learner Profile – and on making a positive difference to those around them. As part of the MYP Community Days pupils are given the opportunity to consider those in their many circles of community; to think about the difficulties people in those communities might experience; and to propose ways to help. It is hoped that pupils will feel able to make pledges

for action at the end of each Community Day which they can then work and reflect on as the year progresses. The MYP Community Days in 2020/21 have been built around a number of resources produced by the World’s Largest Lesson, a project whose aim is to promote the UN Sustainable Development Goals to children around the world. These have increased awareness of the different issues affecting communities around the world, as well as giving pupils ideas of possible courses of action they could pursue themselves.

The theme of our MYP Community Days in 2020/21 has been ‘Thinking Globally and Acting Locally: Embodying the IB Learner Profile’. The IB Learner Profile is central to all IB programmes. it represents 10 attributes valued by IB World Schools. We believe these attributes, and others like them, can help individuals and groups become responsible members of local, national and global communities. For the full list of attributes, see pages 6–7.

Using the global Coronavirus pandemic as our challenge to ‘Think Global, Act Local’, we looked at the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals for our inspiration. The UN has identified 17 interrelated global concerns, all of which have been made more challenging by the global pandemic. In October 2020, as part of International School Libraries Month, and using the theme of Finding Your Way to Good Health and Well-Being, based on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #3 - Good Health and Well-Being, we looked at what measures we could take to meet this challenge locally.

Pupils focused their attention through The Pandemic is A Portal - an extraordinary little film based on Arundhati Roy’s essay in the Financial Times, which dares us to view the pandemic as a portal through which to enter a new and better world, a world in which all of the Sustainable Development Goals have been met. Pupils were channelled to focus their attention into their collaborative posters, titled ‘Think Global, Act Local: improving life in our community after Coronavirus.’ before committing themselves to one or two concrete actions that they will be undertaking throughout the academic year with the support of their Form Tutor.

Over the course of the Community Days, pupils shared their own stories about lockdown, which, unsurprisingly, intertwined with features of each other’s stories. From the perspective of this emerging communal story, pupils inquired into the lockdown stories of children from communities very different to their own by using an interdisciplinary approach.

Based on their pledges, the pupils were provided with more dedicated time to take those concrete actions throughout the academic year. The student action took several forms, such as: campaigning, raising awareness, taking physical action, changing their behaviour or learning more about the problems that exist within our local communities.

Which Sustainable Development Goal will we choose to act on in 2021/2022?

K K

NOPE MIND

LEDGEA W B O N

We nurture our curiosity, developing skills for inquiry and research. We know how to learn independently and with others. We learn with enthusiasm and sustain our love of learning throughout life.

The IB Learner Profile is central to all IB programmes. It represents 10 attributes valued by IB World Schools. We believe these attributes, and others like them, can help individuals and groups become responsible members of local, national and global communities.

INQUIR E

LEDGEA W B O N

The IB Learner INQUIR E Profile

We develop and use conceptual understanding, exploring knowledge across a range of disciplines. We engage with issues and ideas that have local and global significance.

NOPE MIND ED We critically appreciate our own cultures and personal histories, as well as the values and traditions of others. We seek and evaluate a range of points of view, and we are willing to grow from the experience.

C A RI N

We show empathy, compassion and respect. We have a commitment to service, and we act to make a positive difference in the lives of others and in the world around us.

S C

UNICAT M O M O

S ER

BALAN

D LE

We act with integrity and honesty, with a strong sense of fairness and justice, and with respect for the dignity and rights of people everywhere. We take responsibility for our actions and their consequences.

LECTI VE REF IP C P RIN LECTI VE REF

S ER

RISK-TAK

RISK-TAK R E T HIN K

We express ourselves confidently and creatively in more than one language and in many ways. We collaborate effectively, listening carefully to the perspectives of other individuals and groups.

I P RIN C

We use critical and creative thinking skills to analyse and take responsible action on complex problems. We exercise initiative in making reasoned, ethical decisions.

E T HIN K

UNICAT M O M O

BALAN We approach uncertainty with forethought and determination; we work independently and cooperatively to explore new ideas and innovative strategies. We are resourceful and resilient in the face of challenges and change.

We understand the importance of balancing different aspects of our lives – intellectual, physical, and emotional – to achieve well-being for ourselves and others. We recognise our interdependence with other people and with the world in which we live.

We thoughtfully consider the world and our own ideas and experience. We work to understand our strengths and weaknesses in order to support our learning and personal development.

Service and Action Activities in the Lower School Our comprehensive activities programme is a cornerstone of life at Oakham, providing our pupils with the chance to discover where their passions lie and develop their hidden talents. Each term all students have access to an exciting range of carefully selected activities. Through the wide range of options available – we offer over 125 different activities – we hope to help pupils develop qualities, skills and values that stay with them for life.

Which Activity and Why? When choosing their activity, we ask pupils to consider the following: Why not try something new?

BE OPEN-MINDED: Prepare to try out for one term our Fives activity or Science Club? Or look further and participate in the Robotics or the Newsroom activities? Look outside your comfort zone.

BE A RISK-TAKER:

Form 1 pupils are first introduced to the programme of activities during the Learning Camp that takes place at the start of each academic year. In the weeks that follow the Learning Camp the students have taster opportunities to

Willing to try our Gamelan and Indonesian Music Creation or Life-Saving Plus Pool activity? Are you building on something already established and want to continue developing your skills? get to know the range of activities that are on offer and will initially discuss their possible choices with their Form Tutors to support them in selecting the right activity for the right reasons.

BE A THINKER: Why not look at Sculpture, Chess, Art and Drawing or Craft? Do you already have an area of expertise and need more time to develop it?

BE KNOWLEDGEABLE: Continue with Form 2 shooting, sailing, touch typing or the Lower School Drama Production. And what to avoid -

BE PRINCIPLED:

- A time filler - A safe repetition - What are all my friends doing? - No effort needed

Film Appreciation

Lower School Activities These are activities focused on developing the mind and spirit. Chess Build your skills; learn to crush the opposition; compete against others and meet our Grand Master. Strengths/growth / Perseverance

Composition and Music Technology Create your own songs/ compositions using the Music Department technology. Use different software packages to make recordings, soundtracks, different musical creations. Student-led activities / Challenges/new skills

Cooking An opportunity to learn some general cooking skills, try out your baking, and cook some savouries. You get to eat what you cook too, if you want to. Collaboration / Student-led activities

Craft A chance to try out a number of hand-building/ making skills like model making, sewing, sticking, painting War Hammer and present-making in a friendly, relaxing atmosphere. Student-led activities / Strengths/growth

Design Technology Projects An opportunity to enjoy making things from a design idea. Ideal for those hoping to be a Design Scholar. Challenges/new skills / Perseverance

Drama Production Rehearsals for the Lower School Production - over two terms (and some weekends too) Strengths/growth / Perseverance

Drawing skills / General Art A chance to develop your drawing skills, to expand your knowledge and experience. A must for would-be Art Scholars. Strengths/growth / Challenges/new skills

Escape Rooms Learn to solve problems, get out of the Escape Rooms and design one of your own. Collaboration / Student-led activities

Take time to watch classic films of the past and less well-known films too; discuss why and how they differ from films of today; and learn about the contexts of films. Collaboration / International-mindedness

Lego Projects Learn to build using advanced techniques in the most interesting and unnecessarily complicated ways. Student-led activities / Collaboration

Newsroom An opportunity to think about international, national, local and Oakham School news; to learn how to put together newsreels to run in Houses; and to be a roving reporter digging out stories and interviews. Student-led activities / International-mindedness

Science Club A range of fun experiments and investigations – but not like classroom science lessons. Collaboration / Strengths/growth

Sculpture An opportunity to get involved with different types of 3D Art and create pieces to take home, whether you are a beginner or more advanced. Perseverance / Strengths/growth

Lower School Activities These are activities focused on developing the physical body.

Dance

Life-Saving

A chance to learn to dance or develop the skills you already have. Suitable for all abilities. Performance opportunities too. Strengths/growth / Perseverance

Train for your Rookie Life-Saving certificate with fully-qualified instructors, and take your swimming skills to another level. Perseverance / Challenges/new skills

An introduction to different sports and inspirational jazzed-up routines. Challenges/new skills / Collaboration

Fives

Netball (Girls)

Squash

Learn to play this exciting ball game which is a bit like squash but played with the hands and gloves. Learn rules, tactics and maybe even get invited to join the school team. Challenges/new skills / Perseverance

A chance to learn netball if you have not played before, or to develop existing skills further, with top level staff. Strengths/growth / Collaboration

Learn a new sport or improve your skills with experienced staff. Develop your techniques and you might get invited to join a school team. Strengths/growth / Perseverance

Sailing (£) Football Skills The chance to play a different sport, while enjoying some skills development with the coaches and competing against friends. Strengths/growth / Collaboration

The opportunity to benefit from exceptional local facilities; top RYA professional coaches; and the School’s extensive pool of dinghies. Challenges/new skills / Strengths/growth

Develop hockey skills and understanding ready for hockey term. Working with top Oakham coaches you will train to improve and play to enjoy and have fun. Strengths/growth / Collaboration

Other activities can be offered depending on time of year, demand and staff availability. These include: Girls Cricket Kick-boxing Lacrosse

Shooting (F2) Hockey

Sports Hall and Fitness Fun

Become an expert shot with expert coaching in the School’s own shooting range. Challenges/new skills / Strengths/growth

Rugby 7s Boys Tennis Rounders Basketball/Dodgeball Escape Rooms Outdoor Games (like Croquet and Pétanque) Synchronised Swimming Robotics

Looking Ahead Form 3 Community Project In Form 3 pupils will use all of the experience gained in Forms 1 and 2 to put forward a proposal for action in the community that they will carry out throughout the academic year. This will form the basis of their Form Enquiry Project. With a new intake of 3 Community Planning pupils at this age, the Form 3 Community Action Project offers an excellent opportunity for Reflection pupils to join together to work collaboratively and develop their groupwork, teamwork, and research skills.

The IB Philosophy of Education “The International Baccalaureate aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect.”

Oakham School is a candidate school* for the MYP. This school is pursuing authorisation as an IB World School. IB World Schools share a common philosophy - a commitment to high-quality, challenging, international education that we believe is important for our students. * Only schools authorised by the IB Organization can offer any of its four academic programmes: the Primary Years Programme (PYP), the Middle Years Programme (MYP), the Diploma Programme (DP), or the Career-related Programme (CP). Candidate status gives no guarantee that authorisation will be granted.

To find out more about IB programmes, scan the QR Code or visit: www.ibo.org/globalassets/what-is-an-ib-education-en.pdf

An IB Education Updated May 2021