Emanuel Expo Events
What is the Expo?
We want pupils to engage with the subjects they are learning beyond the constraints of classroom and curriculum in a way that is fun and intellectually stimulating. The weekly Expo events are an opportunity for pupils from all year groups to do that through participating in regular super-curricular activities.
With an interdisciplinary focus, teachers from two or more departments work in collaboration to produce interactive discussions or presentations that allow pupils to relate to the real-world relevance of every school subject. They also highlight how subjects link with each other in their practical application or other intellectual contexts.
You can find out more about Expo events here.
Reading for Pleasure and Progress
Reading makes our pupils happier, healthier and more successful people.
Our Reading for Pleasure and Progress initiative seeks proactively to foster and embed a reading culture in the Middle School, when reading habits typically decline. Pupils from Year 9 to 11 have one Form Assembly per week dedicated to silent sustained reading. They are asked to bring a book into school to keep in their bags or lockers, which they use to read during this time. We also offer a selection of book boxes in form rooms in case of any pupils without a book.
This also ties in with our 100 Book Challenge which goes from strength to strength at Emanuel and offers year-group appropriate lists of recommendations for reading, carefully curated and selected by our Oxbridge and Academic Enrichment Co-ordinator, Mr Maskell with the invaluable input of our fantastic school librarian Tony Jones. Pupils are encouraged to read books from these lists during their Form reading time which they can use to earn their Bronze, Silver or Gold Book Challenge awards.
Why are we doing this?
There are compelling reasons in favour of creating time and opportunity for pupils to read, not least the evidence that young people who read for enjoyment are happier with their lives in the short and longer term.
In concrete terms on a personal development level, reading for pleasure produces enhanced brain activity, develops critical thinking, improves vocabulary, can reduce stress by almost 70 percent and reduces memory loss later in life. On a professional level, an OECD-UNESCO study on literacy skills concludes that reading is an increasingly essential prerequisite for success in today’s societies. The interest, attitude and capacity of individuals to appropriately access, manage, integrate, evaluate and reflect on written information are all central to the full participation of individuals in modern life. (p5)
It is essential for all young people to develop and improve focus and concentration skills, which reading for interest and pleasure supports. Fewer than a third of young people aged 8 to 18 read daily, with a drop of 25% in this figure since 2005, according to a recent study by the National Literacy Trust. We know that some pupils do not naturally favour reading and can prefer the short-attention-span activities of social media or online gaming, and we have an important role in addressing this in the school environment.
There are three fundamental elements which we believe make it a benefit we cannot afford to pass up. These are based on solid evidence and some of the research is included in this appendix for your information.
- Literacy
- Academic performance
- Empathy
Academic Scholars Provision
Provision for Scholars at Emanuel is inclusive, meaning that all enrichment opportunities are also available for all other pupils, in line with our More Able and Talented policy.
All Academic Scholars and Exhibitioners attend a half-termly meeting with the SMT Associate (Academic Enrichment). The format of this is informal, involving discussion around activities pupils have been involved in, feedback and comments on Expo events attended and reminders of relevant events such as competitions and challenges to participate in. It is also an opportunity to share content, research or other ideas where appropriate and is an opportunity for departments or staff to publicize events or share information about enrichment activities.
The range of academic enrichment opportunities is wide and reaches every year group and almost every field of academic activity from maths and sciences to humanities. Details are below with links to more information.
Within the classroom:
Teachers provide regular extension and stretch opportunities for all more able pupils as a matter of course. This is reinforced by specific, detailed Challenge Tips shared with teaching staff fortnightly, as well as half-termly Teaching & Learning Committee sessions which focus on teaching methods, research and strategies to underpin teaching practice. Slides from these sessions are also shared with staff unable to attend.
Beyond the classroom:
- Weekly Clubs for all year groups: full list of specifically academic clubs and societies.
- Peripatetic academic competitions and challenges: both internal and inter-school or national.
- Fortnightly Expo events providing a platform to engage with subjects beyond the classroom and curriculum and explore links between subjects. Scholars are expected to attend at least 3 events per term.
- In Lower School, the Inspired Learners Award creates further structured incentive and opportunity for enrichment and challenge for Scholars and all other Year 7 and Year 8 pupils under the ethos of ‘explore, experiment, exceed expectations’ and celebrates pupils who show curiosity, creativity and commitment to subjects. This is awarded on a termly basis in recognition of contributions throughout the full term. Pupils enjoy these stimulating opportunities to explore subjects in different ways and teachers appreciate being able to reward pupils who might not get the top grades but are very invested in their subject.
- In Middle School, the Year 11 Stretch Programme is a very popular initiative offered to aspirational Year 11 pupils as part of their preparation for the selection of A Level subjects. This also starts early the process of deepening subject knowledge and sharpening research and critical thinking skills. Scholars are invited to participate.
- In Sixth Form, the university mentoring support and the carefully tailored Oxbridge Mentoring Programme ensure that Scholars can feel confident in aiming for the very highest educational and professional goals and will be fully supported at every step. The Judt Group further deepens exposure to foundational intellectual content, ideas, discussion and debate and Sixth Form Scholars are invited and encouraged to participate.
