Enrichment at Maplesden Noakes School
Focus days
During each year, on certain days, we move away from the daily timetable and students from year 7
– 11 take part in a focus day. The aim of these days is to allow opportunity for experiences and
activities which don't necessarily fit into the normal school timetable- including study visits, projects,
workshops, performances and mock exams.
Focus days are generally on normal school days in terms of timings, uniform, punctuality and
attendance. However if a student is to be involved in an activity which takes them out of school, or is
a longer day than normal, is none uniform etc then parents/carers will be contacted by the staff
organising the focus day.
2014/2015 focus days are:
17th September (wk 1 Wednesday)
20th October (wk 2 Monday)
18th November (wk 1 Tuesday)
12th December (wk 2 Friday)
8th January (wk 2 Thursday)
4th February (wk 2 Wednesday)
24th March (wk 2 Tuesday)
Activities week
For one week in July, students form year 7 to year 10 participate in a week long activity.
The activities vary between residential, daily off site and/or on site. The Maplesden Noakes school
offers a wide variety of activities each year such as thrills, water and Ice at locals theme parks, tours
of Barcelona, on site PE, taking part in workshops at pineapple studios and watching west end
shows, visiting galleries and exhibitions and even producing and performing a musical in a week. The
activities do vary each year but we always offer an exciting variety of activities.
KS3 enrichment programme
To complement the key stage 3 curriculum we offer a wide ranging Enrichment programme on a
Wednesday afternoon, which consists of a range of clubs . The enrichment programme aims to
broaden the range of students' interests, provide useful skills and knowledge and some of the
enrichment programmes give opportunities for earning some extra qualifications. Key stage 3
students benefit from extensive and varied learning opportunities outside the classroom. We
encourage every key stage 3 student to take part in activities on a Wednesday afternoons. There are
over twenty activities on offer. In addition there are lunchtime and after school clubs
Sixth form enrichment programme
Maplesden Sixth Form Business Challenge
Year 12 students are annually involved in an exciting new Business Challenge venture during the
summer term.
Under the direction of Mrs Sharon Forghani, Director of Business and Enterprise at Maplesden
Noakes School, and in consultation with Mrs Jane Prideaux, Head of School and Mr Tom Newcombe,
Head of Sixth Form, the challenge is set for all students to gain a valuable insight into the business
world. It is both challenging and rewarding and its success has been proven through research and
consultation with other educational establishments. It is a useful tool for interview applications and
when speaking to future employers.
Students work as part of a team of approximately 7-8 individuals, grouped by the school and not by
the students themselves. Students are presented with a very `real business challenge’ which they
have to research, evaluate and recommend solutions to. They work closely with a company when
doing this. At the end of the challenge students present to a judging panel and produce a client
report relating to their business problem.
The challenges are set by carefully selected reputable local and large businesses with whom we as a
school have chosen to work. Students learn valuable skills about problems facing businesses,
teamwork, communication, presentation, marketing finance, reasoning skills, time management and
much more. All teams of students have a mentor at school with whom they meet once a day for
support and guidance.
This is an exciting and valuable experience for our Sixth Form students and is not solely designed for
students who access Business Studies or those who plan to run their own business. It focus is on
developing student’s skills, qualities and confidence which will be an asset for future interviews for
college, university or employability skills.
Extended Project
The Extended Project is a standalone AQA qualification that is very popular at a number of Sixth
Forms across the country. It can provide students with additional UCAS points to the same value as
a typical AS Level (up to 70 points). A number of Universities have commented on the value of the
Extended Project as an excellent way to prepare students for a more independent, university
approach to studying.
Students will need to produce a project (which can be a written or practical project) and also record
the process in a production log. The subject or focus of the project needs to be decided in
consultation with a student’s EPQ mentor, but possibilities are almost endless and we encourage
students to choose a topic or theme that is of interest to them.
Students who produce a written project are expected to produce approximately 5000
words. Students who produce a project that is presented in other formats, e.g. video production
only need to produce a 1000 word written report to accompany the production.