KS3 Weekly Newsletter – Learning Beyond the Classroom

What a fantastic week it has been for our Key Stage 3 students! Throughout the week, Years 7, 8 and 9 took part in a variety of exciting enrichment activities, giving them opportunities to develop new skills, explore future careers and connect their classroom learning with real-life experiences.

Road Safety and Active Travel – Tuesday 30th June

All KS3 students attended an engaging assembly led by Amy, a Consultant from MP Smarter Travel, who spoke about the importance of road safety, active travel and making informed choices when travelling to and from school.

Students explored how different methods of travel can improve their health, reduce environmental impact and help create safer communities. At the end of the assembly, they completed a travel survey, sharing the first part of their postcode, how they currently travel to school and how they would like to travel in the future. Their responses will help inform future school travel initiatives.

Year 7 students then enjoyed a practical workshop with Amy, where they worked together to plan journeys using public transport. They discussed common barriers young people may face when travelling independently and explored practical ways to overcome these challenges.

The workshop encouraged students to think critically, solve problems and build confidence while developing important life skills. It also reinforced learning from Geography, PSHE, Mathematics and Citizenship by helping students understand maps, journey planning, personal safety and environmental responsibility.

Year 8 Annual Arabic Calligraphy Workshop – Wednesday 2nd July

Year 8 were delighted to welcome back Mrs Gulnaz Mahboob from the Yunus Emre Enstitüsü London for our much-loved annual Arabic Calligraphy Workshop.

Mrs Mahboob introduced students to the beautiful art of Arabic calligraphy and shared her inspiring journey of studying this traditional craft in Türkiye. She explained how becoming a calligrapher requires years of dedication, patience and respect for one’s teacher, giving students a fascinating insight into a career that many had never considered before.

Students were fascinated to see examples of her masterwork and learn about the traditional Qalam (reed pen), including how it is carefully cut by hand to produce elegant writing.

Working in small groups, the students learned the correct way to hold the Qalam before practising the dots and strokes that form the foundation of Arabic script. By the end of the workshop, they were confidently writing Arabic letters and combining them to form words using the Ruq’ah style of calligraphy.

The session developed patience, concentration, creativity and fine motor skills while strengthening students’ Arabic literacy. It also made valuable links with Art, History, Religious Studies and Design Technology, helping students appreciate the rich cultural heritage behind this beautiful art form.

Year 9 Videography Workshop and ZooLab Visit – Friday 3rd July

Year 9 students finished the week with an exciting Videography Workshop led by media specialist Mr Wesam Kittani.

Mr Kittani introduced students to careers in photography, filmmaking and digital media before dividing them into production teams. Students learned how photographers, filmmakers and producers work together before creating their own media projects using digital cameras, computers and CapCut editing software.

The highlight of the day was undoubtedly the visit from ZooLab Rainforest, where all KS3 students had the opportunity to meet a variety of fascinating rainforest animals. Students were able to observe and safely handle some of the animals while learning about their habitats and behaviours.

For Year 9, this provided the perfect opportunity to capture high-quality photographs and videos for their media projects. Working collaboratively, each team planned, filmed and edited a short production, showcasing both their creativity and newly developed digital skills.

The workshop strengthened students’ confidence in teamwork, communication, creative thinking and digital technology while supporting learning across Computing, Art, English, Science and Careers Education. It also gave students a valuable insight into the growing creative media industry and the many exciting career pathways it offers.

A Week to Remember

This week’s enrichment programme perfectly demonstrated our commitment to providing learning opportunities that go far beyond the classroom.

Whether developing independence through safe travel planning, discovering the beauty and heritage of Arabic calligraphy, or exploring careers in digital media while photographing rainforest animals, our students embraced every opportunity with enthusiasm, curiosity and maturity.

We are incredibly proud of the positive attitude and excellent behaviour shown by all of our KS3 students throughout the week.

A huge thank you to Amy from MP Smarter Travel, Mrs Gulnaz Mahboob from the Yunus Emre Enstitüsü London, Mr Wesam Kittani, and ZooLab Rainforest for sharing their expertise and inspiring our students. These memorable experiences continue to broaden our students’ horizons, nurture their talents and encourage them to become confident, creative and responsible young people.0