Year 9 Wider Learning Week

July 2019
Dear Parent/Carer,

I am writing to inform you about Wider Learning Week (WLW), which will take place from Monday 8 to Friday 12
July. This week is an opportunity for students to participate in an activity of personal interest, to develop their
key skills, and to engage in wider learning. In putting the programme together, we have tried to ensure a range
of activities, at a range of costs. Some of the activities are free, and, where there is a charge, we have tried to
minimise it. All costs will be finally confirmed once group sizes are known.

Your son/ward will be engaged on the same activity for all five days. Therefore, it is important that he is careful
and serious about his choices. Please take the time to look through the activities overleaf with your son/ward.
Descriptions are intended as a guide, as activities may change depending on group size. The final page of this
booklet details what students need to do after making their choice.

Please note that if students wish to complete the Duke of Edinburgh’s Bronze Award, they must select this as
their first-choice activity.

Thank you in advance for your support.

Yours faithfully,

Ms C Lawler
WLW Co-Ordinator
Curriculum Leader -
Humanities
 Activities
Duke of Edinburgh’s Bronze Award (DofE)

Location: On/off-site
Cost: £110 (this is the cost of the entire Award)

The Award is a challenging programme of activities that helps young people to learn new skills, help others and
experience adventure. It is highly thought of by many organisations such as employers and universities.

To achieve the award, students must complete four sections – volunteering, skills, physical recreation, and
expedition. Wider Learning Week will involve preparation, the final expedition, and the final presentation. It will
consist of a combination of practical and theory sessions aimed at giving you the best chance to pass the
expedition section of the bronze award. The cost is inclusive of all food, campsite fees and a compulsory £17.00
registration fee payable directly to the DofE scheme. It is important to note that if you are doing DofE, you MUST
choose this option to complete the bronze award.

Please note that there are only 32 places available on DofE. If more than 32 subscribe, students will need to
submit a paragraph stating why they should do the award and what they hope to gain from its completion.

Survival Skills Being an Architect

Location: Local areas Location: On-site/London visits

Cost: £30 Cost: FREE
Max No.: 14 Max No.: 20

This activity involves a variety of tasks to test your

team work, resilience, problem solving and survival
skills. Throughout the week students will engage in
a variety of challenges including rock climbing,
shelter building and team-based activities.

Do you have what it takes to complete a Bear Grylls-

style challenge? Then this activity is perfect for you!

The aim of this week is to develop your experience,

knowledge and understanding of architecture and
the built environment. This involves responding to a
design brief set by the Royal Institute of British
Architects and then working on a project during the
week. The week will also include a visit to the Royal
Institute of British Architects, and linking the work of
architects to art, ICT, mathematics and physics.

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 Activities
Computing Theatre Experience

Location: On-site/local area

Cost: £30
Max No.: 20

Location: On-site/local visits

Cost: £50
Max No.: 25

You will develop a range of computing skills and

knowledge including website creation, game
making, podcasting, control systems and computer
programming. This activity will include day trips to
Sky, the Apple store, the design workshop at
Legoland, the computer animation workshop at
Thorpe Park and the home of the codebreakers:
Bletchley Park.
Media Team
Amazing opportunity to work with the award-winning
KIT Theatre, who create immersive theatre work in
which the audience/students are able to make
decisions about what happens in the drama and
experience the consequences in real time. Students
will participate in a two-day in-school performance
with the company and then develop their own
theatrical adventures for an audience of younger
students.

Location: On-site/local visits Sports Week

Cost: FREE
Max No.: 20

Students will follow the other activities taking place

for Years 7-9, interviewing students and staff
running sessions to put together a comprehensive
coverage of the week. This will include creating their
own newsletter and curating content for inclusion on
the school’s social media feeds, the website and our
Annual Review magazine. Location: On-site/London sports venues
Cost: £55
Max No.: 28

This activity will take in a mixture of sports-related

activities both on-site and at sporting venues across
London. Activities recently have included: cycling at
the Velodrome, swimming and diving at the Olympic
Park, bowling, trampolining, beach volleyball,
watching a test at Lords and Top Golf.

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 Activities
Art & Photography

Location: On-site/local visits

Cost: £20
Max No.: 18

Students will take part in a combined Art and Photography week,

looking at different techniques and exploring new skills. Students will
have the opportunity to visit Kew Gardens and a variety of
architecturally-interesting sites. Over the week they will develop a
portfolio of work using the medium of photography.

Barcelona Tour

Location: Barcelona, Spain

Cost: £500 (approximately)
Max No.: 25

During this residential trip, taking place from the

Tuesday to Friday of Wider Learning Week, you will
take part in a range of different activities, including:
tours, sport activities and much more. This is an
excellent opportunity for you to develop your
knowledge of Spanish language and culture. The
chance to spend a few days in Spain and to be
immersed in the language will undoubtedly help you to develop your speaking and listening skills, essential to
the GCSE course.

Please note that on Monday 8 July, students will undertake a series of preparatory activities in school.

Priority for this activity will be given to Year 9 students studying Spanish.

Places will be confirmed as soon as possible after the closing date of Friday 7 December, and a
deposit of £100 will be required by Thursday 18 December.

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 Activities
Code-Breaking

Location: On-site/London visits

Cost: £35
Max No.: 15

This week is an opportunity to learn about the development of making

and breaking codes over the course of history right up to modern day. It
will include an Escape Room experience and a day at Bletchley Park
where Britain’s leading code breakers broke the Enigma Code, helping
Britain to win WW2. Perfect for students interested in the more practical elements of maths and its real world
applications.

Music Production

Location: On-site/London visits

Cost: £35
Max No.: 15

This week is all about learning the process that you go through in
producing and releasing a song; starting from the writing and recording
of a song, through to producing and marketing. You, as a group, will go
through this process and by the end of the week launch the song to an
audience. Whatever element of the process interests you, this is the perfect opportunity to apply your skills to a
real process.

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 What’s Next?
 Parents/carers complete the simple Activity Form, located at this link and on the school website
(www.isleworthsyon.org/WLW).
 This form must be completed by Friday 7 December (9.00am) at the latest.
 The form asks for three choices – students will be allocated one of these.
 Please select three different activities.

Payments

 Further information will be issued by the member of staff leading the activity, once choices are confirmed.
 The deadline for full payment of costs for all activities is Monday 4 March 2019.

Timescales

FRIDAY 7 DECEMBER 2018 Final deadline to complete Wider Learning Week choices online
(9.00am).

FRIDAY 18 JANUARY 2019 Option choices are confirmed to students and letters are issued with
payment details.

MONDAY 4 MARCH 2019 Final payment for all activities must be made.

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