We
refer to activities beyond the taught curriculum, but which develop leadership
skills and other personal qualities valued by employers and universities, as
'Enrichment'. This does not include paid work, but a very wide range of
activities in and out of school can count towards the 100 hours total
Enrichment that Sixth Form students are expected to complete. Students are
advised to complete their 100 hours by the start of Year 13 (to allow UCAS
personal statements and references to comment on it), but this is not
essential. Enrichment can be divided into three categories:
1. Community Action
Any
voluntary activity which benefits the school or wider community, including a
range of leadership roles in school. At least 30 hours of the full Enrichment
total should be community service. Volunteering as a reading or maths buddy or
a teaching assistant in school, working in a charity shop or as a leader in a
youth group are popular examples.
2. Work Experience
At
least 30 hours. Ideally some form of work shadowing, to give a Sixth Form
student useful experience of a career or job they are not currently qualified
to do. Working as a sales assistant in a shop is not useful work experience,
but shadowing a manager in the same organisation is. It is the responsibility
of Year 12 students to arrange their own work experience and submit paperwork
to Miss Stratford.
For
student NOT taking DofE, you MUST arrange work experience for 27 June 2016 – 1 July
2016.
3. Personal Enrichment
Any
extra-curricular activity which involves personal development (learning a new
skill for example) rather than benefiting others (which would make it community
service). Learning an instrument or playing in a band, playing sport, and
artwork or photography not required by a taught course are examples.
These
can all contribute to DofE, CREST and vInspired awards.
Collecting
evidence and recording Enrichment activities
Sixth
Form students should log evidence.
Useful
links:
vInspired – Government-funded
organisation which exists to match 16-25 year olds with volunteering
opportunities in their area.
workexperience.org list of useful sites if you are
looking for a placement.
