WIDER LEARNING WEEK

YEAR 9 OPTIONS

/IsleworthSyon
isleworthsyon.org
 Welcome
Dear Parent/Carer,

I am writing to inform you about Wider Learning Week (WLW), which will take place from Monday 6 to Friday 10 July 2020. 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 sizes. 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. There is a chance a second expedition will run outside of
WLW but this will depend on demand.

Thank you in advance for your support.

Yours faithfully,

Mr J Barry
WLW Co-Ordinator

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 Activities
Art & Photography Code-Breaking

LOCATION: On-site & local visits LOCATION: On-site & London visits

COST: £20 COST: £35

MAX NO.: 20 MAX NO.: 28

You will take part in a combined art and photography week, An opportunity to learn about the development of making and
looking at different techniques and exploring new skills. breaking codes over history and in the modern day. It will
Students will have the opportunity to visit Kew Gardens and include an Escape Room experience and a day at Bletchley
a variety of architecturally-interesting sites. Over the week, Park, where leading code-breakers helped Britain to win
you will develop a portfolio of work using the medium of WW2. You will then create an escape room on the school site
photography. for other boys to try and break free from.

Pick this activity if... you are interested in photography and the Pick this activity if... you are interested in the more practical
processes that go into crafting the perfect photograph. elements of maths and its real-world applications.

Being an Architect

LOCATION: On-site & London visits

COST: FREE

MAX NO.: 20

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 (RIBA) and
then working on a project during the week. The week will
also include a visit to RIBA’s offices, and linking the work of
architects to art, ICT, mathematics and physics.

Pick this activity if... you want to learn how some of London’s
most famous buildings were designed and constructed.

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Computing
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
Chessington, the computer animation workshop at Thorpe
Park and hands-on activities at the Science Museum
Pick this activity if... you want to take your computing learning
beyond the classroom and into the wider world.
Activities
Media Team
LOCATION: On-site & London visits
COST: FREE
MAX NO.: 20
You will cover the other activities taking place for Years
7-9, interviewing students and staff running sessions to put
together comprehensive coverage of the week. This will
include creating your own news reports and curating content
for inclusion on social media (Twitter and Facebook) and the
Duke of Edinburgh’s Bronze Award (DofE) school website.
LOCATION: On/off-site Pick this activity if... you want to experience what it would be
like to work in a pressurised newsroom.
COST: £110
MAX NO.: 32
The Award is a challenging programme of activities
which 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 limited places available on DofE.
If there is substantial interest a second expedition may run
outside of WLW, enabling those boys to complete a different
activity during the week itself.
Pick this activity if... you want to learn new skills, help others
and experience adventure.
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Scientists
LOCATION: On-site & London visits
COST: £10
MAX NO.: 30
During the week, you will learn what it is
like to be a scientist in the real world. This
will involve experiments over several days
- enabling you to learn much more than
your lessons. On top of this, you will visit
museums in Central London to learn more
about what you uncover during your in-
school experiments.
Pick this activity if... you love experiments
and getting hands-on with practical science.
Activities
Sports Week
LOCATION: On-site & London sports venues
COST: £55
MAX NO.: 28
You will have a fun and active week, taking 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, go-karting, Twickenham
Stadium tour, beach volleyball, watching a
test at Lords, and Top Golf.
Pick this activity if... you love sports and want
to step out of your comfort zone.
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Survival
LOCATION: Local visits
COST: £30
MAX NO.: 14
This activity involves a variety of tasks to
test your problem solving and survival skills.
Throughout the week, you will engage in a
variety of challenges including fishing, rock
climbing, shelter building, orienteering and
team-based activities. Do you have what
it takes to complete a Bear Grylls-style
challenge?
Pick this activity if... you want to improve your
team-building and resilience skills.
Theatre Experience
LOCATION: On-site & local areas
COST: £30
MAX NO.: 20
You will work with the award-winning KIT
Theatre in order to create immersive theatre
work in which the audience and actors
are able to make decisions about what
happens in the drama and experience the
consequences in real time. You will take part
in a two-day workshop and develop your own
theatrical adventures.
Pick this activity if... you are passionate
about developing a unique piece of theatre.
 What’s Next?
Pick Your Choice Timescales
• Parents/carers complete the simple Activity Form, located at this link and on the FRIDAY 29 NOVEMBER 2019 Final deadline to complete Wider Learning Week choices
school website (www.isleworthsyon.org/WLW). online (9.00am).

• This form must be completed by Friday 29 November (9.00am) at the latest. FRIDAY 17 JANUARY 2020 Option choices are confirmed to students and letters are
issued with payment details.
• The form asks for three choices – students will be allocated one of these.
MONDAY 2 MARCH 2020 Final payment for all activities must be made.
• 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 2 March 2020.

Isleworth & Syon School

Ridgeway Road, Isleworth
Middlesex, TW7 5LJ
T: 020 8568 5791 • F: 020 8568 1939
school@isleworthsyon.org
www.isleworthsyon.org
/IsleworthSyon

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