1. When does enrichment take place?
   Enrichment takes place periods 4 & 5 every Wednesday.
    
2. How long does enrichment run for?
   It runs throughout the Autumn and Spring terms.
    
3. Is enrichment compulsory?
   It is a compulsory programme that has been tailored to help you prepare for your post-18 options.
    
4. What are my choices?
   The Davenant Enrichment programme includes different activities that range from sports programmes to learning a language to volunteering and work experiences. There is something for everyone. The programme has been tailored to suit everyone’s interests and to prepare you for your post-Sixth Form life.
    
5. Can I choose two different programmes, one per term?
   There are one term and two-term programmes. If you choose a one term programme, you will need to choose two programmes. Please choose carefully, especially if you want to complete the EPQ project.
    
6. What do I do if I have more questions?
   You can discuss any further questions with Mrs Alex Bruce, Head of Year 13.

*Enrichment placements to be approved by Mrs Bruce

Primary School Teaching Placements – Autumn & Spring Terms 

Go into local primary schools to help class teachers with tasks such as reading, IT skills, numeracy skills etc.  This would be a great option for those thinking of completing a degree in teaching. Local schools included in our scheme are: Thomas Willingale, Staples Road, Epping Primary & Theydon Bois. You are more than welcome to contact your local primary school to arrange a placement.

Care Homes – Autumn & Spring Terms

Read, play games, paint nails, chat, dance, play music, laugh and reminisce with residents in local nursing homes.  Perfect work experience for medicine courses.

Charity Shop Placements & Volunteering – 1 or 2 Terms, your choice

You are more than welcome to go into your local charity shop or a charity and ask if they need any help on a Wednesday afternoon. You will need to confirm the name and location of the charity shop to Mrs Bruce.

Work Experience - Autumn & Spring Terms

Opportunities to gain invaluable work experience. Essential for medicine, teaching and veterinary courses. Please have an idea of where you will take a placement if you choose this option. You will have to find the placement yourself.  This must be unpaid work experience and the school will require a copy of the public liability insurance certificate from the organisation.

IMPORTANT: All placements must take place during the allocated enrichment time on a Wednesday afternoon. You will receive visits to ensure you are happy with your placement and be asked to provide brief updates on the tasks you are undertaking. You may choose to attend a placement for 2 terms or 1 term and then choose a different placement, or a different activity within school.  

With all placements within the community, we obviously expect the highest level of commitment and enthusiasm. You will be representing Davenant and are expected to behave accordingly. It would be unacceptable to commit to one of these activities and to then let the organisation down. 

Mandarin for Beginners – 1 or 2 Terms 

Mandarin is language that is spoken by billions of people.  Increasingly, it is language that students are looking to learn.  You will not become a fluent speaker in your enrichment time, but learning some basics may just spark your interest in taking the study Mandarin further.  

British Sign Language – 1 Term

Learning British Sign Language as a team, using an online signing course.  This course consists of 10 lessons and a final assessment task.  It is a comprehensive introduction for anybody who is interested in learning BSL.  On successful completion of the course, you will receive a certificate.  If you are interested in increasing your ability to communicate with all members of our community, this is a good option.

Photography NEW! - 1 Term

An opportunity to develop your photography skills with online courses.  The first explores how to use your camera on your phone in a more effective way.  This is then followed by another course focusing on how to use cameras. On successful completion of these courses, you will receive certificates.  This is a great way to discover, ignite and build your creative side! 

Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) – Spring & Summer Terms

An EPQ is a research-based project undertaken on any topic of the student’s choosing: it can be further extension of a subject being studied at A Level, a subject area the student wishes to study at university, but which is not part of their school curriculum e.g. Medicine, or simply an area of personal interest unrelated to their other studies.

The Project itself can take several forms. In most cases, the student will produce an extended essay of approximately 5,000 words. However, it is also possible for the Project to take the form of an artefact or object created by the student after extensive research.

The EPQ also carries UCAS points: 70 UCAS points are awarded to an A*, 60 to an A, 50 to a B, 40 to a C, 30 to a D and 20 to an E. The EPQ project is coordinated by Mr Taylor.  Please discuss any further questions with him before November 2024.

Subject Mentors – 1 or 2 Terms

You may wish to be a mentor in your favourite subject. This would involve you speaking with subject teachers to arrange for you to go into key stage 3 & 4 lessons on a Wednesday afternoon to help class teachers, mentor students in that subject and offer advice and guidance to students in the class. Again, perfect for those looking to enrol on teaching courses after A Levels or simply to keep in touch with a favourite subject.