Summer Schools 2004
The following contains reports from Summer Schools in
2004.
Beaumont School, St.Albans
| Title:
Beaumont International
MFL,
German
During the last week in August, 29 Year 6 pupils from local
primary schools were invited to Beaumont to take part in an
International Summer School. All of the invited pupils were
transferring to the BeauSandVer consortium at the beginning
of September. The focus of the week was on developing literacy
skills in workshops with an international theme and on having
an introduction to a new language, in this case German.
More
information:
|
|
Hemel
Hempstead School |
Title: Space – The
Final Frontier
Cross Curricular (Science, Maths, Dance)
Day 1 - Students worked in two groups and experienced two sessions in
The National Space Centre’s BT Stardome and two activities outside. In
the Stardome the students were treated to light displays showing them the solar
system and interesting facts about the life of stars. They were also told several
fascinating Greek Myths inspired by the stars and planets....
More information:
|
|
The Priory
School, Hitchin |
Title: Space
Challenge - Rendezvous with a Comet
Cross-curricular (Science, Maths, Art, Design, Geography)
The week was based on a visit to the Challenger Learning
Centre at the National Space Centre, Leicester. The first three
days of the summer school were spent on mission preparations
to enable them to successfully carry out the Challenger Mission.
The Challenger centre is set up as a mock space station and
mission control centre. The centre will accommodate groups
of 14-34, with half of the students on the space station and
half in mission control at a time. Students need to carry out
a variety of scientific experiments, need to chart star maps
and navigate the space station, need to monitor the crew’s
health and need to assemble a probe to actually rendezvous
with the comet. During the mission an emergency occurred, namely
a leak in the oxygen supply giving us only five minutes of
oxygen left. The life support group have to solve the emergency
problem by liaising with mission control. We survived with
33 seconds to spare!
The beginning of the week was therefore spend doing science
preparation, designing a mission badge, looking at mathematical
co-ordinates needed for navigation, taking a ‘mission
physical’ whilst learning how to take blood pressure
and pulse readings and a decision making exercise on mission
survival. The crew completed a CV and job application for their
desired assignments.
On our last day the crew put on a mock press conference to
give a report on the week. A panel representing the various
mission teams prepared speeches, a technical team edited a
video to show to parents and a display team put together props
and a display of photographs. A large number of parents and
friends attended the press conference and the crew confidently
responded to their questions, putting on an impressive display
of the weeks activities. |
|
Richard
Hale School, Hertford East |
Title: The English
Country House
Cross-curricular -
History, Art, MFL, ICT
As our summer school for gifted and talented pupils was for
five days this year, only three members of staff were needed.
Therefore, with a linguist, historian and artist on board we
elected to embrace the theme above, and selected Audley End
to set the scene for the ensuing educational venture.
After an introduction to the pupils, and the opportunity
for them to meet one another, we set off by coach at 9.30 to
the north west corner of Essex, to Saffron Walden. There the
magnificent country house can be found nestling in the landscaped
grounds designed by Capability Brown.....
More information
|
|
Rickmansworth
School
|
Title: The Rhythm
of Life – Summer School 2004
Dance, Drama, Music
The Rickmansworth Summer School was a STOMPING success! 45
pupils from Years 6, 7, and 8 took part in a variety of Performing
Arts workshops throughout the week, focusing on Dance, Drama,
Art and Music. STOMP proved to be an easily accessible theme
giving pupils the opportunity to use their individual ideas and
interpret them through their subject specialisms. This was enhanced
by their experience of a live performance of ‘STOMP’ at
the Vaudeville Theatre, London which helped pupils to develop
their understanding and exploration of rhythm and sound. STOMP
is a blend of movement, sounds and unusual ideas. In this same
vein pupils created their own production, ‘The Rhythm of
Life’, using the words and distinctive beat of the song
of the same name from the musical ‘Sweet Charity’,
to link the different scenes. The work they produced was mature,
creative and inspiring; pupils choreographed their own dance
routines, wrote their own raps and scripts and demonstrated strong
characterisation through mime and movement.
An ‘alternative’ orchestra was created from everyday
materials using pipes, brooms, and dust bin lids to create many
rhythms, beats and musical sounds! Pupils who specialised in
Art painted their ‘circles of life’ to enhance the
set. These reflected abstract sections of familiar objects, such
as colourful crisp packets, chocolate wrappings and strong logo
designs.
Alongside the development of their differing performance
skills, the week enabled everyone involved to explore the basics
of STOMP. They learnt the importance of audience participation,
to develop their critical responses, and to use appropriate language
and voice projection. Pupils also experienced the wider aspects
of a ‘stage school’ by exploring stage lighting,
video and sound recording and photography to document their development.
Some of this imagery was displayed on the final day and provided
an insight into the week as a whole.
Throughout the week pupils were encouraged to record experiences,
reflect on their development and creatively respond to a series
of structured and open-ended opportunities using their handbooks
and journals. Pupils worked collaboratively and individually
and target-setting played an important part in helping the pupils
to establish objectives that were shaped around their needs and
experiences. These proved a powerful motivating factor for these
able young people.
At the end of the week, the performance of ‘The Rhythm
of Life’ to parents and colleagues was testament to the
hard work, commitment and good humour of the Rickmansworth Stompers,
who successfully created extraordinary music, energetic rhythms
and exceptional sounds!
Lindsay Clements
Gifted and Talented Co-ordinator
Rickmansworth School
|
|
Sir
John Lawes School, Harpenden |
Title: Media Moguls
Media Studies, Citizenship, ICT, Drama
The purpose of the summer school was to provide young gifted
and talented students with the opportunity to learn the techniques
of video film making. During the two weeks participants would
learn both technical skills and production/organisational practices.
They would have the opportunity to develop and experiment with
their creative abilities, and to work in supportive teams.
At the end of the two weeks all students would have taken
part in making two video productions, and their work was shown
on the big screen in the Sir John Lawes cinema.
The Summer School was lead by Sarah Kelly, an experienced
video production lecturer at Barnfield College in Luton. She
was supported by four Sir John Lawes staff. Total number of
students taking part over the two weeks was 33, with a good
mix of boys and girls.
Conclusions
The summer school was a great success, with feedback from
students and parents being extremely positive. The opportunities
afforded the students were very well suited to the gifted and
talented as the projects called for creative and lateral thinking
and exploration.
Staff worked very effectively as a team, and developed very
positive relationships with the students. The structured but
informal atmosphere of the summer school helped to convey the
impression that this was a special opportunity to be made the
best of, rather than simply more education.
The video films produced were excellent, and we can supply
copies upon request.
Follow-Up
Sir John Lawes is currently undertaking G&T Masterclasses
on some Saturday mornings. We are also delivering an animation
project to YR 6 students in collaboration with the Cambridge
film consortium.
Techniques developed through the summer school are being
used during term time, and there will be a discussion during
the Learning School Improvement Group for staff.
We would be interested in any other specific follow-up activities
that might be valid and possible.
|
|
| |
|
