Student Enrichment

Inspiring Strategies to Unlock Our Boys' Full Potential

Providing a holistic education is critical if we are to elicit the very best from our learners. By enjoying a breadth of activities in class and out, our boys have the opportunity to gain key competencies – from teamwork and leadership skills to confidence, critical reasoning and emotional literacy – and develop into happy, considerate, well-rounded individuals.

Our school offers a range of stimulating extracurriculars to inspire boys and foster development in different areas, including sports, the arts and academia. Children of all ability levels are supported and encouraged to reach their full potential: by delivering a wealth of rich opportunities, we help our students to explore new interests, develop existing ones, and empower them with varied, valuable skills for later life.

At Wetherby School, we aim to instil core values in our boys from an early age, furthering their growth into caring, respectful and responsible individuals. Our curriculum promotes fundamental British values, good behaviours and attitudes, and other attributes that enable our boys to excel in both school and the wider world. We encourage boys to engage positively with the school community; by doing so, and by taking on additional responsibilities, they emerge capable, independent and with a strong sense of accountability.

School Council

Our Vision

Our school is a welcoming community dedicated to giving boys valuable opportunities to demonstrate their skills and thrive as well-rounded young learners who actively seek to improve their learning environment. The School Council ensures boys are able to contribute towards the continuous improvement of teaching and learning. By meeting with senior leadership and discussing pertinent issues, elected student representatives create a more harmonious and positive community for all.

Aims

The School Council aims to:
• Make a positive contribution to the school environment and ethos;
• Develop and promote boys’ self-confidence, social skills and their responsibilities towards each other, teachers and adult members of staff;
• Develop the boys’ knowledge, skills and understanding of how to contribute to society as a whole and what it means to be an active citizen;
• Develop boys’ speaking and listening skills;
• Allow the boys to have a voice and to share their ideas and opinions with others;
• Develop the boys’ recognition of themselves as worthwhile individuals with a right to be heard;
• Allow the boys to become more responsible and actively involved in the decision-making process of the school;
• Develop important life skills that promote positive mental health and social welfare, emotional literacy, critical and moral reasoning, self-esteem, self-awareness, communication skills, relationship skills and assertiveness; and
• Increase self-esteem and self-confidence.

Wetherby Ambassador

The Wetherby Ambassador Rules are the foundation of the school's behaviour management policy. These rules outline the conduct that is expected from each learner in addition to forming the basis of our weekly whole-school targets. At the beginning of the school year, boys are reminded of these rules, and they are referred to across all year levels, especially during Learning for Life lessons. When a rule has been broken, teachers use the opportunity to discuss the importance of good behaviour.

The Wetherby Ambassador Rules are:

• We are polite, kind and helpful; 
• We work hard and try our best; 
• We look after each other and our belongings;
• We encourage our friends and say well done; 
• We smile and have fun;
• We always tell the truth;
• We learn from our mistakes;
• We listen to and respect others;
• We have a growth mindset; and
• We have a go ourselves before asking for help. 

Each week in assembly, one boy from each year group is given an award for being an exemplary Wetherby Ambassador. His photograph is also taken and displayed on the Wetherby Ambassador noticeboard to commemorate his achievements.

Co-curricular Activities

We are delighted to deliver a wide variety of engaging and creative activities that enrich the lives of boys beyond the classroom. Our co-curricular provision is comprehensive and includes both lunchtime and after-school clubs. Boys may choose to participate in additional academic courses, receive sports coaching or gain art and music tuition. All activities offer an exciting opportunity for our curious learners to have fun, make new friends and explore their talents in a range of contexts.

Trips

Trips are a vital part of a boy’s education. They complement in-class learning and enhance pupils' understanding of the school curriculum. Each year, staff organise numerous outings for all year groups, ensuring children benefit from the wealth of cultural and historical places of interest located conveniently close to our school. Parents will receive details of school trips well beforehand.

Residential Trip

In Year 3, all boys take part in a residential trip for three days and two nights. 

After spending time with their friends immersed in nature, our boys gain an increased sense of independence, crucial life skills, confidence in their teamwork and leadership abilities, and many amazing stories! At the Parent Information Evening in the autumn term of Year 3, parents and guardians will receive further details regarding the residential trip.

Nurturing Exceptional Abilities

We encourage each boy to excel across the curriculum as a whole. Class and specialist teachers are responsible for identifying children with exceptional ability in a particular subject/s or area. We aim to identify able children as early as possible so that we can monitor and support their progress effectively.

Our Learning for Life (PSHEE) Programme

The Learning for Life programme is part of the Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education (PSHEE) curriculum. This programme, taught from Reception to Year 3, aims to reinforce good attitudes and behaviours and develop key skills and attributes such as self-esteem, risk management, resilience, teamwork and critical thinking. It does so in the context of learning grouped into four core themes: health and wellbeing, relationships, digital safety and living in the wider world (including economic wellbeing and aspects of career education). In addition, PSHEE lessons seek to help boys understand attributes essential to overall happiness, such as cooperation and respect for property, the environment and, above all, each other.