Extra-Curricular
Duke of Edinburgh
The D of E programme here at Holy Family is a real adventure from beginning to end. It doesn’t matter who you are or where you’re from. You just need to be in Years 9 to 13.
There are three levels, in year 9 students begin with the Bronze award and if they wish can continue on to the Silver or Gold Duke of Edinburgh Awards when they are in years 11-13.
Students achieve their Award by completing a personal programme of activities in four sections (five if attempting the Gold Award)
- Volunteering
- Physical
- Skills
- Expedition
- and for Gold, a Residential
You'll find yourself helping people or the community, getting fitter, developing skills, going on an expedition and taking part in a residential activity (Gold only).
The best bit is - you get to choose what you do!
Your award can be full of activities and projects that get you buzzing, and along the way you’ll pick up experiences, friends and talents that will stay with you for the rest of your life.
Please use this awards portal to upload evidence for your assessments.
Expeditions
Congratulations to all participants in the programme this year for the successful completion of their expeditions. Particularly the Silver group who had some very wet, cold and challenging conditions in Dartmoor.
We look forward to continue successfully running all three levels of the award next year.
If you need any further information or are interested in becoming a DofE Volunteer, talk to Mr Wilbraham: r.wilbraham@holyfamily.waltham.sch.uk
Pixl Edge
The Pixl Edge programme is a framework that allows students to develop a digital portfolio that can then be accredited as a qualification by NFCE. The aim of the programme is to develop personal attributes which are crucial for life beyond school.
All students starting in year 7 will be registered for the programme and will need to complete activities within the following categories:
- Leadership
- Organisation
- Initiative
- Resilience
- Communication
Depending on the number of activities that are completed for each category there is the opportunity to gain accreditation at the following levels:
- Apprentice
- Graduate
- Masters
We are very excited about this programme and intend to expand it so that it becomes a programme that spans between year 7 and 13.
STEM
‘How do you calculate the weight of a person when you have a skateboard and a medicine ball?’
Physics in action at HFCS.
STEM is based on the idea of educating pupils in 4 specific disciplines: Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths. It is cross curricular and an applied approach where the four disciplines are integrated, creating cohesive activities based on real world applications.
At our annual STEM showcase, Y7 pupils made and sold bath bombs to the staff & pupils followed by an exciting siege engine competition. The Y8 pupils competed their soap box racers against each other. The Y9 pupils battled in a HFCS ‘’robot war’’. Presently Y7&9 pupils are building a greenhouse (funded by Glass Sellers Guild) and planting seedlings. Y12 pupils teach basic IT skills to senior citizens -‘Silver Surfers’ Club. We also offer ‘Coding for Girls’ and the creation of an electronic sprinklers system using the ‘Raspberry PII’.
At HFCS our focus is to embed STEM learning across the curriculum to promote STEM related career pathways. The ‘spark’ we create here at HFCS STEM Club is what we hope will, one day, be the catalyst to follow careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths.
