Partner schools all in for Summer School
UCS, as a centre of excellence for teaching and learning, shut its doors for the summer holidays at the end of June but that’s not to say the Senior School was left to gather dust.
Even after the closure of an academic year in which UCS bounced back from the pandemic, life went on at Frognal. Members of the support staff who had been so integral to the school’s successful 2021–22 were on site. And joining them, at least for one week, was the UCS Summer School, an established feature of our partnerships and community portfolio but one which had endured two Covid-enforced cancellations.
Now restored and expanded after a three-year hiatus, the Summer School returned for a week of activities tailored specifically for Year 4 and 5 children from local primary schools. A total of 130 pupils attended, all selected by their schools for their academic attainment.
Mrs Rancon, as Schools Partnerships Coordinator, led a volunteer team of UCS teachers in planning and running activities designed to stretch the talented Year 4 pupils. They were superbly assisted by UCS Transitus pupils who, in supporting the younger children, developed their own confidence and leadership abilities.
The Year 4 academic sessions covered topics as diverse as Modern Languages, Psychology, Politics, English, Drama, Science and Computer Science. The Design and Technology sessions involved kite building; electronics and Engineering invited pupils to build working circuits.
The visiting Year 5 pupils, meanwhile, were based at the New Pavilion and Playing Fields where UCS linked up with Active Day Camps to put on sporting sessions imparting the skills of rugby, tennis, rounders and football. Communication and teamwork were promoted, with the action culminating in dodgeball and a Nerf session (look it up!).
The response was overwhelmingly positive, with one partner school, Richard Cobden Primary School, writing: “Our Year 4 children enjoyed two great days at the academic summer school and the Year 5 took part in a variety of sporting activities coached by Active Day Camps. Many thanks to UCS for providing this wonderful experience for our children.”
