ELECTIVES
(from Latin eligere – to choose!)
OUNDLE ELECTIVES
Electives are activities that you choose for yourself, and we encourage and challenge you to make the very most of them. They are:
• Encouraged for the 1st/2nd Form – talk to your Tutor about what best fits your programme • Compulsory for the 3rd/4th Form – your Tutor will monitor and encourage your progress • An opportunity for pupil leadership for the 5th/6th Form - under the guidance of a member of staff
Electives generally happen in Vols time on a Tuesday and Thursday afternoon between 5.15pm and 6.45pm but they can happen at other times too. Academic Surgeries are also available in Vols time for when you need help with a particular subject. You should take the initiative on when to use these with the help of your Tutor.
WHAT IS AVAILABLE?
Some examples of electives are provided above to give you a flavour. You will receive instructions about how to sign up for things that are available to your year group at various points during the year so keep an eye on email, Teams and the Daily Bulletin.
If you discover a passion and want to keep going back to a specialist area, for example the Patrick Engineering Centre, the Stahl Theatre, the Art department, Sport or the Music department, you can do this by arrangement with staff provided your Tutor is happy and provided this doesn’t come at the expense of you doing other things you would enjoy being part of.
HOW DO ELECTIVES WORK?
There are four ‘rotations’ of six week courses during the year. Courses are ‘sign up’ or ‘turn up’ depending on the nature of the activity. Once committed to a sign up activity you will be expected to complete the course: attendance will be registered. This is especially important for courses which are being used to evidence DofE skills.
You may also wish to pursue a personal project with your Tutor’s approval, whether that be taking time to pursue your own hobbies and interests individually or coming up with a group venture. Further ideas include:
• Are you making, or writing, something, or keen to pursue an online course? • Do you and your friends want to put on a performance of some kind and need the rehearsal time? • If you love to read, then why not challenge yourself to write a series of book reviews and present these to your Tutor or the Library? • If you are musical and really need some quality time to yourself to practise, then this is your time and you can make use of it and update your Tutor on your progress. • You might even explore the possibility of running your own Elective with the help of a senior pupil or teacher if you have a worthwhile idea.