Student Experience
As part of our ongoing commitment to developing the ‘whole child’, our offer extends beyond the classroom. Our dynamic approach to the pupil experience encompasses a range of activities, creative teaching methods, a wide range of support tools and a diverse enrichment programme, designed to enhance the learning experience.
Pupil Leadership
We value pupil voice and allowing pupils the opportunity to influence and understand the decisions made that impact their lives at Concord.
Through a range of responsibilities and roles, we encourage pupils to assume positions that develop their leadership skills, including:
- Attendance ambassadors
- Playground leaders
- Academy Council
- Class monitors.
The Council gives pupils a voice in the development of Concord Junior Academy. Pupils are elected annually, and the Council has two representatives from each class.
We believe that our Council encourages pupils to understand and value the ideals of British Values, democracy and citizenship. The Council focuses on a wide range of issues including safety and well-being, lunchtime routines and the curriculum and meet regularly with Senior Leaders to discuss issues in the academy. Part of the role is to report back to their classes and find ideas to help improve our academy.
Elections are run in September each year and candidates wanting to be elected write speeches to persuade their classmates that they would make a good class representative. Qualities of a good councillor include being a good listener, being confident, having a loud voice and being able to take on board other children’s ideas.
Enrichment and Experiences
We aim to inspire and cultivate our pupils’ passions, to enable the development of life-long skills and draw out every child’s potential.
Throughout our thematic work, all year groups provide memorable and inspirational experiences, including trips and visits which build on the learning taking place in the classroom. All pupils experience two days of outdoor and adventurous activities during the Summer Term and our Year 6 pupils embark on an exciting residential trip. In addition, every pupil enjoys bi-annual visits from theatre companies and exciting art opportunities.
As part of our enrichment offer, we have a number of clubs on offer to pupils, covering a range of interests including sports and dance, both before and after the academy day.
Celebrations
As a close-knit community, we make every effort to celebrate each other’s successes and achievements, exciting learning days, cultures and beliefs within our community.
- Competitions
- Weekly celebrations of learning
- Black History of Month
- Health Schools Week
- Science Week
- BBC Exploration
- Termly fundraisers
- Dojo points and prizes
- Sports Day
- Charity Days
- Summer and Christmas activities
- Performances
- PTA Events
- World Book Day.
Support
Our broad and balanced curriculum offers suitable and appropriate learning challenges for all pupils in response to their individual learning needs. Our dedicated pastoral team work across the academy to support pupils and their families.
Partnerships
Partnerships are integral to the success of our academy.
We work in strong partnership with our parents to support pupil learning, wellbeing and development.
- The Brigantia Learning Trust and our associated academies provide direction, leadership and the sharing of best practise and resources.
- Work with Locality to support teaching and learning within the community.
- Strong links with Brendan Ingles Gym, local dance company and Friends of Wincobank to support our local community and enable children to become more involved in their community.
- Character First - The programme's intended impact extends across a wide range of factors, including improved mental and physical health, improved attendance, behaviour and academic performance, increased employability and to have enabled social mobility.
Ventures
The Brigantia Voice initiatives aims to support our pupils expand their vocabulary and oracy and maximise their learning to take their place in society. We work with our partner academies across the Trust to bring this vision to reality for every child and young person.
The Trust has undertaken the Thrive Approach, a programme that provides the tools, skills and insights needed to help children become more emotionally resilient. Grounded in established neuroscience, attachment theory and child development, the Thrive Approach has been developed over the past 25 years and draws on a wealth of experience in social work, psychotherapy and education. As a result of implementing the Thrive Approach, children and young people are better placed to engage with their learning and with life.
In addition, we work with our secondaries across the Trust around Humanutopia, to build the leaders of tomorrow and support children to make confident transitions between academies.