Abbey Hill Academy showcases its cultural enrichment curriculum each Wednesday afternoon (TGIW).
Sessions allow students to take part in a diverse range of activities with the aim of providing new experiences and promoting personal health and wellbeing. These activities are led by our fantastic team of teaching assistants who are able to display their many hidden talents, inspiring students to learn new skills and giving them the opportunity to excel and thrive outside of the usual classroom setting.
These activities include:
|
Enrichment |
Benefits |
|
Judo |
Led by Adrian Harding, a first dan black belt. Students wear a judo gi and are taught skills to complete judo grading’s. We are so proud that a number of students have graded up to a yellow belt within the last year! |
|
Dance |
Led by Gemma Thompson for ‘We Can Dance’. Last year, all students achieved the British Association of Teachers of Dancing, Certificate of Performance Level 1 |
|
Personal Presentation Abbey Hill Salon |
Learning how to take care of personal presentation, including skin care, hair care and styling, nail art and massage in our very own salon |
|
Making the most of leisure time |
Including walking and cycling. Students use our new balance bikes until they are proficient and are ready to use a bicycle |
|
Swimming Billingham Forum |
A number of students have recently achieved 5m, 10m and 25m certificates. As well as improving their confidence, swimming enables them to build endurance, muscular strength and cardio fitness |
|
Ice-skating Billingham Forum |
Improving balance and coordination and offering great exercise as an aerobic workout |
|
Play Factory Thornaby |
Enabling our young people to socialise with others and develop their creativity and imagination through play as well as dexterity and physical strength |
|
Football coaching Middlesbrough Sportsability |
Providing students with the opportunity to develop their skills as well as improve their fitness. |
|
Hospitality Abbey Hill Bistro |
Preparing food, serving customers and managing money |
|
Arts and Crafts |
A wide range of arts and craft activities focusing on fine motor skills development and creativity |
|
DIY and ‘School Improvements’ |
Led by our fantastic Design Technology expert, Geoff Hunter. Students learn how to paint, fix and build by completing challenges to improve our school environment. |
|
Lego therapy |
Students are challenged to follow instructions, communicate and build using creativity and imagination |
|
Animal care |
Students help to care for the school guinea pigs and chickens as well as visiting local animal charities, shops and attractions incorporating meaningful encounters with potential employers |
|
Physiotherapy and Hydrotherapy |
Providing students with the opportunity to get involved in therapeutic exercise to improve strength, range of motion and endurance and to support/correct postural and muscle imbalance. |
|
Relaxation and mindfulness |
Proven to improve well-being and focus. |
|
Sensory based activity |
Supporting language development, cognitive growth, motor skills, problem solving and social interaction |
Students change options on a half-termly basis unless they are pursuing qualifications in dance or judo, where they will continue the option throughout the academic year.
94% of student’s are currently taking part in their first choice option.
If you have any questions related to our cultural enrichment curriculum offer, speak to your child’s tutor or contact our enrichment coordinator, Adam Gascoigne.
Contact: adam.gascoigne@horizonstrust.org.uk
