On week 2 Thursday afternoons from 2.45-3.35pm, conventional school is replaced with optional 'Thursday Pursuits', an afternoon of mini-enrichment activities.  These opportunities are intended to broaden your child’s experience of the curriculum and introduce them to new skills, knowledge and experiences.  However, remaining in school is optional, so your child can leave school at 2.45pm to continue their learning from home. 

Students who remain in school will receive an automatic allocation of an activity on a termly (Sep/Jan/Apr) basis and will have the opportunity to experience three enrichment activities during the year.  Please see the ‘Course Descriptors’ below for information about each activity offered until July 2025. 

Parents will receive an email in early September 2025 inviting them to complete a form which must be completed to secure a place on a course which is randomly allocated by the school (not the parent/child).  We urge parents to check and respond to their emails at the earliest opportunity to ensure a smooth start.   

Please note that spaces are limited on each course and allocations are undertaken by the school, subject to availability (see list below-subject to change).

Curriculum Enhancement Thursday Activities

Course Descriptors 2024-25

(We reserve the right to withdraw/change/modify/add to any of the courses at any stage of the year)

Please note most students will have the opportunity to experience three activities available in their year group (unless stated otherwise) as they will rotate automatically on a termly basis (Sep/Jan/Apr). 

Please note BSL is a half-yearly course.

British Sign Language (this is a half-yearly course)

British Sign Language (BSL) is the most used sign language in Britain.  BSL has its own grammatical structure and syntax, and as a language it is not dependant nor is it strongly related to spoken English.  BSL is the preferred language of around 145,000 people within the UK (2011).  Sign Language is a visual means of communicating using gestures, facial expressions, and body language and is used mainly by people who are deaf or have hearing impairments.

This half-yearly online self-study course is set out into 10 sections and can form part of the skills section for those looking to do DofE.  Each section is made-up of webpages of information and short video clips demonstrating the signs that you are learning.  Students will then swap to another course after February half-term.

On completion of the course, students will have access to their certificate which will contain a verification code that can be used by people such as employers to verify the authenticity of the certificate.

Please visit BSL’s website for more information: https://www.british-sign.co.uk/

Building Fitness & Resilience

These sessions will cover a variety of activities such as team building, self-regulation, self-discipline and emotional resilience to promote positive mental health and well-being.  Students will also develop mindfulness techniques to aid concentration and help to combat negative thinking.

Chess Club

Students of all abilities are accepted to come and play chess.  After a short lesson, members play against each other, sometimes matched against each other based on skill.  All boards, clocks, and pieces are provided.

Introduction to Computer Science (Year 7)

The aims of this session is to introduce the younger students to various fields of Computer Science through project-based/hands-on learning, and frequent competitions. These fields can range from anywhere from Software Development and Cyber Security to Robotics and Circuits.

Engineering

These sessions aim to provide students with valuable insights into various aspects of the field, such as earthquake-proof buildings in Japan, the aerodynamics of F1 cars and planes.

They will be engaging and informative, fostering a deeper understanding of the subject amongst students. By examining current products / solutions, we can create a dynamic learning environment that goes beyond traditional classroom teachings.

Multi-Sports

Students will participate in a range of sports from Basketball to Badminton and develop a variety of skills, strategies and tactics.

This may sometimes take place outdoors so students need to come dressed in suitable sportswear appropriate to the time of year. 

Warhammer 

Our aim is for students to have a nice place to go and relax and discover a hobby that they probably had no idea about.  They will be able to:

• Learning how to paint models
• Playing small matches so that they can learn how to play
• Read Warhammer-related books if you are interested in the story of the game

Wing Tjun

Wing Tjun is a form of Kung Fu and during this course we will cover basic self-defence, anti-bullying and meditation.  Wing Tjun is good for the body and mind, delivered by IWKA Wing Tjun from Coventry.  The aims of the course are:

• Improve Confidence
• Self-Esteem
• Fitness
• Awareness
• Improved Focus
• Have Fun

At the end of the course, there is an option to take part in a grading to achieve the first grade in Wing Tjun.

Calligraphy

Students would be taught basic broad-edge calligraphy techniques in a script of their choice, experiment with different styles, and ultimately make a final calligraphy piece. We plan on creating a series of workshops of sort, from basic strokes to more advanced composition (if time permits).

Drama/Theatre Arts

Explore endless possibilities!  Drama Enrichment is a fantastic opportunity to show off your creativity with a professional practitioner.  You do not need any previous experience of acting or performance – it’s a chance to express creative ideas, re-imagine worlds, play games and create performances from scratch using ideas that you care about. 

If you sing, dance, rap, create spoken word - drama enrichment develops all performance skills and confidence.

Financial Literacy Club

Introduction to finance and budgeting to help prepare students and raise awareness.