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Students spent a day off the usual timetable to indulge in topics outside of the traditional curriculum.

The collapsed timetable day is held each year at Forest Hall School to broaden students’ horizons and give them opportunities to indulge in a theme for longer than lessons allow.

This year, Year 7 students focused on careers, Year 8 learnt first aid skills and Year 9, 10 and 11 focused on their options subjects –

• Year 7 spent the day looking at different careers, their own skills, qualities and interests and various jobs. They looked into what employers look for in successful candidates and took part in mock interviews featuring the kind of questions they would expect before securing a sixth form place or job. Kayleigh Trainor, assistant head, said: “Those who already have an idea of the type of career they would like to go into were able to focus on them and gather further information. We start this work with Year 7 as it gives them an opportunity to look at careers and consider what they might like to do. We want to raise aspirations and to support those who do not yet know what they might like to do in the future.”

 

• Year 8 worked with London Ambulance Service to learn how to carry out primary survey and how to handle bleeding, bruising, choking and fractures. They also learnt how to carry out CPR and use a defibrillator. Lewis Davis, humanities instructor, said: “At one point, I walked into the hall and saw 26 students on the floor carrying out CPR on dummies and thought ‘wow’. It was such a lovely image, seeing them all getting involved and practising together. These are skills they are going to use in the future in real life. It makes our students safer when they are out and about without adults. We know this is the age where they are starting to be more independent.” It is hoped the session will become an annual event for Year 8.

 

• Year 9, 10 and 11 spent the day focusing on the subjects they are taking as options. They took part in workshops looking at various subjects and improving their exam skills.

Miss Trainor said: “The idea of the collapsed timetable day is to make sure we are educating the whole child, so they become well-rounded citizens. They know that school is not just about what they can learn in a textbook, it is also about everything else that makes you the person you are.

“For our children, learning first aid or about careers helps them with their futures. We simply can’t cover all of that in everyday lessons.”