ELECTIVE HANDBOOK - AUTUMN 2015
Name: ……………………………………………………… Form: ……………
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ELECTIVES OPTIONS TABLE
WEDNESDAY ELECTIVES
FRIDAY ELECTIVES
Basketball: Years 10 & 11
Board Games
Bollywood Dance
Book Group
Carom Board – Indian Board game
equivalent to snooker
Classic Literature Films
Around The World In 12 Weeks
Basketball: Years 7 & 8
Collectible Card Games
Community Aid
Cross Country
Disney Through The Ages
Freerunning
GCSE Art and Graphics Catch Up
German
Knitting
Computer Graphics
Contemporary Music *
Controversial Theories - Fact Or
Fiction (Years 10 & 11 only)
Cross Stitch & Fabric Craft *
Dodgeball
GCSE History Revision elective
KS3 Additional Prep
Musical Theatre Choir
Netball: Years 7 & 8 Girls
Performing Arts
Rowing - Beginners *
Spanish Intervention – Y11 only
STEM club
Sudoku
Swimming *
Zentangle
Latin Club
Mindfulness Colouring In
Music Theory
Performing Arts
PyGames
Netball: Years 9, 10 & 11 Girls
Rowing - Experienced *
STEM club
Studio Ghibli
* Contemporary Music, Cross Stitch & Fabric Craft, Rowing and
Swimming electives will incur a fee to cover the cost of materials,
equipment / pool hire. Please see A-Z for details
If the fee is not paid unfortunately students will not be allowed to
participate in these electives.
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AUTUMN TERM REVIEW
MY WEDNESDAY ELECTIVE IS:
WWW:
EBI:
MY FRIDAY ELECTIVE IS:
WWW:
EBI:
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STICK YOUR
AUTUMN
DEVELOPMENT
WHEEL HERE!
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STICK YOUR
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A-Z of Autumn Term Electives
Around The World In 12 Weeks
Teacher: Mrs Kigang
The aim of this elective is to provide students with the opportunity to
talk about their native land. They will share with other students their
culture, education, food and music. Students are allowed to dress
culturally and the last two week, every student will bring a dish from
their country of origin to share and eat with the rest of the class.
Basketball: Years 10 & 11
Teacher: Mr Cox
You will learn the basic skills of the sport including the different types of
passes, dribbling and shooting. The emphasis is on maximum game time
and how these skills contribute to effective play.
Basketball: Years 7 & 8
Teacher: Mr Cox
You will learn the basic skills of the sport including the different types of
passes, dribbling and shooting. The emphasis is on maximum game time
and how these skills contribute to effective play.
Board Games
Teacher: Mr Smart
The elective where you get to play games for an hour… what more
could you ask for?! Board and Table-top games club is an elective
where you will be playing any board games, table-top games, or roleplaying games that you can think of. We will have Scrabble, Monopoly,
Risk, Chess, Warhammer, Dungeons & Dragons, Yu-Gi-Oh, Pokemon –
anything you want to play, then bring it in and play!
Bollywood Dancing
Teacher: Miss Mistry
“DANCE TO THE RHYTHM OF YOUR HEART, AND YOU WILL FEEL
HAPPINESS LIKE NEVER BEFORE.”
The dance influence of classical Indian Kathak and Bharat Natyam; with
a twist of contemporary and street forms Bollywood Dance. Over the
last 10 years Bollywood Dance has become a worldwide phenomenon.
Originating from India, it has found its way into our music videos, our
fitness regimes and even our London Olympic 2012 ceremony.
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In Bollywood Dance students will learn a full Bollywood Dance routine
over the term, choreographed by myself, to a fully mixed selection of
classic and contemporary Bollywood music tracks. Bollywood Dance will
help with your fitness, confidence and ability to perform to small and
large audiences. The aim is for the students to perform their complete
routine at the end of term showcase.
Book Group – Years 10 & 11
Teacher: Mrs Sturge & Mr Donald
Love reading? Want the chance to read and discuss some classic works
of fiction? Then sign up to book group. This term, we will be reading
Animal Farm and Lord of the Flies.
Carom Board – Indian Board game, equivalent to Snooker
Teacher: Mr Bechoo
Develop your hand eye co-ordination, spatial awareness, mathematical
application of angles, and scientific application of force. Problem solving
and challenge.
Classic Literature Films
Teacher: Mr Scanlan
To tie in with our program of 100 classics you can come and see film
versions of the classics of English Literature, including modern takes on
Great Expectations and Emma, Polanski’s Oliver Twist, and luxurious
costume dramas like Anna Karenina.
Combined Cadet Force - Army
Teacher: Miss Robins
Want to have a career in the Army? Thinking about joining up? Here is
your opportunity to explore what goes on in the Army. We will learn
about rifles, the hierarchy, the phonetic alphabet, radio control systems
and tactical manoeuvring. Open to all students.
Computer Graphics
Teacher: Mr Hogg
You will have the opportunity to use computer editing software to
enhance your creative and design skills. This elective would be suitable
for any student who has an interest in computer graphics and enjoys
designing.
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Collectible Card Games
Teacher: Mr Smart
Do you collect and play a particular card game? Yu-Gi-Oh!, Pokemon,
Magic: The Gathering, football cards or any other games? Then this is
the elective for you! Collectible Card Games is an elective where you
can play your card games each week with others who also play!
Challenge your friends (or Mr Smart!) to a game, set up tournaments
within the group to decide who is the ultimate champion, and discover
other games that you might like the look of but have never seen played
before. You must bring your own deck/collection, and be willing to
teach others who may not have played before how your chosen game
works!
Community Aid
Teacher: Miss Carrol
Helping the local community to stay clean, safe and aware. We will litter
pick along the embankment, feed and promote how to keep local wildlife
healthy and much, much more! If you are interested in living in a
brighter Bedford and being part of keeping it that way then do not
hesitate to join!
Contemporary Music
Teacher: External Music Teacher
Ever wanted to play in a band? Do you have a good ear for music? If
this is you, sign up to the first ever Contemporary Music elective! You
will experience, first hand, what it is like to play in a popular music band
and have the chance to play bass guitar, electric guitar, drums,
percussion, keyboard and even sing! You may not have played some of
these instruments before…so now here is your chance.
This elective will come at a charge of £30 for the whole term.
There are only 10 places available.
Controversial Theories - Fact or Fiction (Years 10 & 11 only)
Teacher: Mrs Kigang
A controversial theory is a theory that is rejected by mainstream media
because it cannot be verified. It is often called a hypothesis or a hoax.
In this elective, you will have to select one of the controversial theory
that is out there (it can be geographical, scientific, religious etc). Your
task will be to research and present all the evidence to the rest of the
class, who in turn, will decide whether it is 'fact' or 'fiction.
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Cross Country
Teacher: Mr Davies & Mrs Crawford
We take a group of students running by the river in central Bedford. Cross
Country Club is available to runners of all skill levels – we currently have
runners who have run for the county, and people that have never
ran before. Cross Country offers a great escape from academic life and is a
great chance to get fit, enjoy a challenge and push yourself beyond your
personal boundaries.
Cross Stitch & Fabric Craft
Teacher: Mrs Smith
Are you crafty? Practice your needle craft skills, and get ready for
Christmas by crafting small items for yourself and to give as gifts.
£5 fee to cover materials for the term.
Disney Through The Ages
Teacher: Miss Macpherson
A look back at the magical history of Disney through the decades. From
1937-2015 Disney has captured the hearts and minds of many
generations. In this elective students will explore the history, art, music
and traditions of Disney. How does Frozen compare to Snow White and
the Seven Dwarves? Join me on a journey back in time to discover how
Disney has changed through the ages.
Dodgeball
Teacher: Miss Ironside
Believe it or not, dodgeball can give you a good overall workout.
Avoiding the ball gives you a good cardio exercise and you can improve
your leg and arm strength through jumping and throwing the ball.
Trying to avoid the ball or catch the ball can also improve your hand-eye
coordination. Dodgeball is one of the most popular sports out there, it’s
also a lot of fun, why not give it a go!?
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Freerunning
Teacher: Mr McGrath
Freerunning or Parkour is a new discipline that’s primary focus is around
flowing, efficient and harmonious MOVEMENT.
The basic movements in freerunning are running, jumping and climbing.
The self-discipline to overcome fear and push personal boundaries will
be central to the sessions but will come secondary to assessing personal
risk, understanding how to keep yourself safe and avoiding injury.
Two goals of the discipline are:
 To be able to move through any terrain as swiftly and fluidly as
possible with efficiency, grace and precision.
 To make individuals physically and mentally stronger, becoming
balanced and well-rounded human beings who then help the
community and others through strong foundations.
Freerunning is not about big jumps and risk taking. It is about
challenging yourself and enjoying movement in its many forms. Strive
to be better, not the best.
German
Teacher: Miss Morris
The aim of this elective is to provide students with the ability to learn an
additional language on a conversational level aside from those offered
as part of the curriculum. This elective is of particular interest to those
students who are interested in foreign languages and who enjoy it. A
level of effort is required for this elective and students should be
prepared to actively learn!
The elective will follow a week-by-week programme covering different
topics each week, with the aim that they will be able to hold a basic
conversation about themselves, their family, where they live, free time
activities and school life by the end of the term. We will also be looking
at some cultural elements including life in Germany, geography and
traditions of Germany.
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GCSE History Revision (Year 11 only)
Teacher: Mr Blake
Additional revision sessions to support students with their GCSE History
course. Selected Y11 students only.
GCSE Graphics and Art Catch Up
Teachers: Miss Scorer & Mr Hogg
This elective will be an opportunity for those students studying GCSE
Graphics and GCSE Art to catch up with any outstanding work. Miss
Scorer (Art) and Mr Hogg (Graphics) will be available to support and
guide those who need any extra help and an opportunity for 1:1
guidance.
Key Stage Three Additional Prep
Teacher: Mrs Perry
A chance to catch up on homework. This elective will be a silent Prep
session. Please come prepared with everything that you need.
Knitting
Teachers: Mrs Crawford & Miss Glasspool
Do you want to learn how to knit or to improve your skills? This course
caters for all levels of ability. Beginners will learn all the basics whilst
more seasoned knitters will be able to stretch their skills and design
their own pieces. We will cover all the basics including casting on,
knitting, purling, cabling, how to read a pattern and completing a
project. Each session we will introduce a new technique that can be
incorporated in to a more sustained and complex project that we will
work on throughout the term.
Latin Club
Teacher: Miss Ironside
Come and learn the language of the Romans. This will be a fun
opportunity to learn a new language and enjoy a new culture.
Mindfulness Colouring In
Teacher: Mrs Sturge
Are you looking for a way to de-stress and unwind? Then why not come
to mindfulness colouring in? This elective will allow you to let go of the
stresses of school life and create some beautiful pieces of art at the
same time. All students welcome.
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Musical Theatre Choir
Teacher: Miss Goodship
Were you involved in our school musical production of HONK!? Or did
you come and watch and want to get involved? This elective will
introduce you to some of the best songs from musical theatre – from
Hairspray to Matilda, from Wicked to Oliver. We will perform songs from
these musicals as an ensemble, with musical theatre choreography. So
if you enjoy singing and you enjoy performing, this elective is for you.
Music Theory
Teacher: Miss Goodship
This elective is for students that are planning to take GCSE Music, or are
already taking GCSE Music! This elective will develop your knowledge of
music notation, music vocabulary and musical listening skills – all vital
skills needed for GCSE music.
You also have the chance to be entered for a music theory graded
exam. If you have taken music theory grades before, you can use this
time to continue with your study with the support of Miss Goodship. If
you are new to music theory, we can start from the beginning! If you
are a dedicated and enthusiastic musician, this elective is for you.
Netball: Years 7 & 8 Girls
Teacher: Miss Coombs
An elective to allow girls to practise and develop their netball skills. All
abilities welcome! Girls who intend on aiming for the netball team should
consider this elective strongly to ensure a weekly practise with their
team members.
Netball: Years 9, 10 and 11 Girls
Teachers: Miss Coombs & Miss Wiffen
An elective to allow girls to practise and develop their netball skills. All
abilities welcome! Girls who intend on aiming for the netball team should
consider this elective strongly to ensure a weekly practise with their
team members.
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Performing Arts Club
Teachers: Miss Damon & Miss Turney
This is a drama club with an element of singing and dancing. During the
first term we will be working towards a show which you will be
performing in December. This club will teach you drama, singing and
dancing techniques but also gain confidence, work with new people and
have lots of fun!
PyGames
Teacher: Mr Moore
Develop exciting, graphical games using python computer code.
Templates will be provided to get you started with example projects,
and you will also be supported to develop your own games. In Years 10
and 11 many use this elective to support their GCSE study.
Rowing – Beginners (Years 9, 10 and 11)
Rowing – Elite (Years 9, 10 and 11)
Teacher: Mr Cropley
In Rowing we will be dividing our time between working on good
technique in a boat on the river and developing fitness. Fitness sessions
include circuit training, weights in the gym, and mock races on the
rowing machines. To succeed at rowing you need to be competitive,
dedicated, enthusiastic, have high self-discipline and be a good
swimmer. But most importantly you must not be afraid of the water as
you will probably fall in at some point. The beginner’s sessions are
designed to introduce the basic concepts and get you out on the water
as much as possible.
This elective will come at a charge of £30 for the term.
Spanish Intervention – Year 11 only
Teacher: Miss Morris
This intervention will support students in their GCSE Spanish and in
particular focus on exam practise, how to achieve highly in controlled
assessments and allow the students involved extra time in order to go
over any topics that they have found particularly challenging. In order
to keep the elective interesting and help motivate the students, it will
include a variety of different activities to help improve reading, writing,
listening and speaking skills.
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STEM Club
Teacher: Miss Dave
A range of fun activities to help you explore science, technology,
engineering and maths.
Studio Ghibli
Teacher: Mr Scanlan
Come and discover the magical world of Studio Ghibli from Japan. In
‘Spirited Away’, a young girl finds herself trapped in a mystical realm,
where she must find a way to save her parents - who have been turned
into animals. In ‘Princess Mononoke’ a young warrior prince gets
involved in the conflict between magical beasts and ruthlessly
progressive humans in this mature, complex, epic anime from great
storyteller, Hayao Miyazaki. Come and see ‘Howl's Moving Castle’,
'Ponyo', 'Arietta' and many more. You Learn about Miyazaki and his
amazing team of animators.
Sudoku
Teacher: Miss Carrol
Do you like a good brain teaser? Would you like to improve your
memory skills? Sudoku is a great puzzle that is proven to relax and
strengthen your skills in many areas such as patience/pattern
recognition. If you want to keep your brain healthy and compete in
some fun challenges then join my elective today!
Swimming
Teacher: Miss Wiffen
For students who are confident and competent in swimming 25m on
their front and back. They will be refining and improving the 3 main
strokes and learning basic lifesaving skills.
There is a charge of £30 for this elective.
Zentangle
Teacher: Miss Scorer
Zentangle is an easy-to-learn, relaxing, and fun way to create beautiful
images by drawing structured patterns. Almost anyone can use it to
create beautiful images. It increases focus and creativity, provides
artistic satisfaction along with an increased sense of personal wellbeing. You do not need any artistic skills just a willingness to learn a
new one.
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‘We believe that, given the right
circumstances, all children are capable of
extraordinary things.’
Honesty
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Respect
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High Expectations
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