One World, One City, One Birches Head

Earlier this summer, year seven, eight and nine students from Birches Head Academy took part in its annual Out and About Week. Starting on July 8, the school participated in a number of activities across Europe. Students who took part, christened the week of activities One World, One City, One Birches Head. 

During Out and About Week the timetable is suspended and the students take part in various cultural activities. The school was divided into its house teams; air, fire and water and the students cooperated with each other to develop their extra-curricular skills.

As part of the project young people from Birches Head visited Paris, Belgium and Liverpool. Other trips included Waterworld, West Midlands Safari Park, Tamworth Snowdome, Bolton Gates Riding School and Rudyard Lake.

To mark the end of the week, teachers, parents and partners of the school were invited to attend a Caribbean carnival organised by the students in partnership with Stoke Caribbean Centre.

The students also made costumes and masks for an All Around the World Parade. Patricia Ball, who deals with inclusion support at Birches Head Academy, introduced students to Caribbean dance routines.

Fourteen year old Ryan Minton and twelve year old Aphena Thompson showcased their newly developed Caribbean dance skills to the audience at the carnival.

“All the staff at Birches Head worked as hard as possible with the pupils to make the week memorable,” commented Karen Healey, head teacher at Birches Head Academy. “The objective of Out and About Week is to give the students the opportunity to experience things they wouldn’t usually have the opportunity to do.

“Last year’s theme was the Olympics, so this year we had to match its success. We chose to embrace a cultural theme,” explained Healey. “We invited in year six students from local schools to take part in the week and taught them, along with our own students, to cook Italian, Hungarian and Thai food.

“We believe that there are certain aspects of a child’s learning that must be developed through creative and physical activities, Out and About Week helps to achieve this,” concluded Healey.