Excellent academic results are only part of the story. What has really sets Battle Abbey School apart is its attention to the whole pupil. The soft skills and confidence built by the access to opportunities, culture of success developed in the classroom and the overarching ethos the Abbey provides ensures that every pupil has, by the time they leave the Abbey, developed into a well rounded global citizen.
It is possible to come in to Battle Abbey for 8.30am registration and leave by 4.15pm but the vast majority of our pupils are involved in a wide variety of clubs, leadership and organisation roles, peer mentoring schemes, event management, EPQ (Extended Project Qualification) work or one of our over 50 free clubs weekly (both after school and at lunchtime). Still more take the opportunity to complete their homework on site in supervised Prep where the opportunity to work collaboratively in groups or just take advantage of the ready access to teaching staff, is taken by many and is always well attended. As a result we find that on any given day around half the pupil cohort stay on site at the Abbey til 5.45pm which not only allows pupils to attend a variety of clubs or academic support sessions but gives parents an opportunity to manage their lives beyond the Abbey walls without having to pay additional child care costs.
Broadly speaking our offering beyond the curriculum can be divided into one of three categories.
SUPRA CURRICULUM AND SOCIETIES
The school structures a range of Societies based around our Academic Faculties. These are led by our student Bronzes in the Sixth Form who work with teachers to provide Supra Curricular opportunities that offer students the chance to develop what they have learned in timetabled lessons. During Societies period students can take classes in a range of activities including Forensics; World Literature; Maths Olympiads; Broadcasting; Ecology and more. All the activities allow students to take control of their learning and stretch themselves to go beyond the curriculum. Recent Supra Curricular achievements include our Lego Robot team who won the First Lego League, Our F1 in Schools Team who made the National finals in Rotherham, Our Public Speaking pupils who won a Senior award at the Cranmer competition, and several pupils who qualified for the UK Maths Olympiad finals.
Our 8 societies are:
The James Joyce society provides a range of activities in Societies period. These include activities designed to extend pupils beyond the curriculum such as a unit on Albert Camus. They also offer activities to develop pupils’ skills such as the Battle Broadcasting Society and Creative writing. A range of supra curricular competitions are also offered to give students opportunities to be successful outside of the curriculum.
The Ophelia Society covers all of the arts and will expose pupils to a diverse range of activities based on one consistent theme. For instance, the Drama section will see pupils take part in an improvisation exercise based around the theme, while the Art section will see pupils take the same theme but this time apply it to the creation of a piece of Art eg: a collage. The Music section will follow the same concept.
The Walter De Luci Society aims to educate students about the world around them and help students have an impact on society. Activities like Campaign Management teach students how to run a successful campaign strategy and seek to give students the skills they need to take up leadership positions and enact positive change both inside and outside the Abbey walls. Scheduled public speaking sessions enable Sixth Form groups to practice positive debate in a safe and meaningful way, whilst competitions such as the Cranmer Award and Philosothon give students the opportunity to show off their critical thinking and public speaking skills. Key Stage 4 and Sixth Form Students also have the opportunity to contribute to the School’s annual academic publication, ‘The Gateway’. The Gateway gives pupils the opportunity to explore themes of interest, that go well beyond the school curriculum, encompassing the arts, politics, global issues and current events. The annual launch event at the Abbey, also organised by the pupils, sees parents, staff and governors come together in the summer term to celebrate this wonderful achievement.
The Science Society provides an extensive range of supra curricular activities. Forensics, Engineering and Rocketry are always popular choices for students. Competitions like F1 for schools help students to extend their learning and apply it outside of the classroom. Opportunities for independent exploration and public speaking are provided by the annual Science Christmas lectures. Computing is also catered for through activities such as Electronics.
The Rosetta Society exists to provide students with cultural opportunities and the skills to immerse themselves in a range of different languages. Students have been exploring languages through film as well as making use of modern apps to teach themselves a language of their choice. The Society also coordinates trips to European desinations so pupils can apply their love of language outside a classroom setting.
Students will create a maths scrapbook on a broad topic, e.g. Maths and Art, Maths and Music, Fractals or Pythagoras. Students will be allowed to include diagrams, models, proofs and can incorporate elements of pupils’ own research. Prizes and house points to be awarded to the best work at the end of the half-term. There will also be competitions and challenges with Chess being regular fixture.
Students will have the opportunity to explore the World of Sport, learning games from around the globe that go well beyond the standard curriculum. There will also be an exploration of the theory of exercise.
The History element of this society will see a thorough analysis of the theories and practices of Warfare, both modern and medieval. This will include physical demonstrations of siege machines and games that concern the basic strategies of warfare. For those of a less historical bent budding Key Stage 4 Naturalists will also have the opportunity to go for their Blue Peter ECO Badge!
EXTRA CURRICULAR CLUBS AND ACTIVITIES
We encourage pupils to participate fully and to achieve their best, not only in the classroom but in all areas of school life. There are over 50 free Extra Curricular Clubs available in our rich and varied Extra Curricular programme weekly. Our Extra Curricular programme helps to develop confidence and self-assurance, essential soft skills highly valued in today’s job market and indeed more broadly in society.
Both Music and Drama exist as curriculum subjects and in the Extra Curricular schedule. There are productions and concerts on a regular basis and most pupils will have the chance to be in a play and all will be given the opportunity to learn a musical instrument. The school also regularly trains teams for public speaking and debating competitions. Performing before an audience and the preparation that lies behind it are life skills we consider to be very important.
We offer high level and committed coaching in many sports too. We have a first class indoor swimming pool, which we use extensively for both competitive and recreational swimming. Pupils in the Senior School are coached by qualified specialists in their chosen sport each term, so that all pupils, not just the talented, receive the benefit of top quality instruction.
A wide variety of other options are available too ranging from textiles to word games, from current affairs discussion groups to Chinese and Greek.
Please Note: The Extra Curricular Activity schedule will be subject to change from term to term particularly with regard to seasonal sports. This booklet is intended to give a flavour of what is on offer at Battle Abbey School but the Extra Curricular schedule will depend on demand and current staff skill sets and not all clubs listed here will run every term.
SUPERVISED PREP
Rather than go home many pupils choose to complete their homework on site in supervised Prep where the opportunity to work collaboratively in groups or just take advantage of the ready access to teaching staff, is taken by many and is always well attended.
ECOLOGY AND SUSTAINABILITY
Sustainability, stewardship and social prescribing underpin our curriculum. We develop green skills by nurturing our pupils, helping them, in turn, to nurture the earth. Children learn realistic sustainability, to become an environmental steward, and develop a mindful approach to the world, for their future and generations to come.
Our Ecology Clubs and Societies regularly participate in local projects such as Beach Cleans as well as managing their purpose built pond habitat. The Ecology Society have brought real awareness to the school and many of the sustainability ideas raised in our weekly Student Voice sessions have gone on to be incorporated in the schools action plan. The School have also been involved in local tree planting schemes, recycling programs and even had their flag designs taken to the North Pole!
OUTDOOR EDUCATION AND THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH AWARD
Outdoor Education is an engaging, effective and enjoyable form of learning. Outdoor Learning provides direct experience engaging with our natural environment and the ways we can enjoy it. Outdoor Learning provides such a different context for learning that pupils who would normally struggle in the classroom often become motivated and capable in the outdoors. Teachers are frequently surprised by the abilities and interest shown by students when in the outdoors, and by the extent to which Outdoor Learning has awakened their potential. Battle Abbey School offers a variety of outdoor education options, not least through our Societies and Ecology Clubs but also through our ever popular Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme.
DUKE OF EDINBURGH
A Duke of Edinburgh programme is a real adventure from beginning to end. It doesn’t matter who you are or where you’re from. You just need to be aged between 14 and 24 and realise there’s more to life than sitting on a sofa watching life pass you by. You achieve your Award by completing a personal programme of activities in four sections (five if you’re going for Gold) – Volunteering, Physical, Skills, Expedition and for Gold, a Residential.
You’ll find yourself helping people or the community, getting fitter, developing skills, going on an expedition and taking part in a residential activity (Gold only). Your programme can be full of activities and projects that get you active, and along the way you’ll pick up experiences, friends and talents that will stay with you for the rest of your life. On any given year we have between 90 and 100 pupils taking part in the scheme. This year we have 46 year 9 Duke of Edinburgh students and some 56 in years 10 and 11. We also have a handful in Sixth Form currently completing the Gold award. In lower years expeditions are local but for the Gold award the pupils travel to the Lake District to complete an expedition and hike over several days.
The volunteering aspect of the award sees candidates completing approximately 12hrs of reginal voluntary work each. This equates to some 2,000 hours volunteered which we estimate as nearly £13,000 worth of value to the local and regional economy.
WHY DO DUKE OF EDINBURGH?
Achieving an Award will give you skills, confidence and a view on life that everyone is looking for, from employers to colleges and universities.
You’re getting recognised for doing things you want to do (and may even be doing already).
You’ll make a difference to other people’s lives and your community, be fitter and healthier, make new friends and have memories to last you a lifetime.
It’s great fun!
