Whitgift Primary Project
For over 20 years, the Whitgift Primary Project has given Primary Schools from the Croydon area the chance to attend Whitgift for one week per year to use the facilities around the school for ICT and a variety of other subjects. Approximately 1,000 children visit Whitgift for the Primary Project every year. The project runs during every full school week of the year and is fully integrated into the everyday routine at Whitgift School.
The project is fully funded by Whitgift and there is no cost to the participating schools.
Aims
Through the Primary Project, Whitgift aims to provide pupils from Croydon Primary Schools the opportunity to experience a week of learning in this unique and inspiring environment. Pupils encounter a large Secondary School environment for the first time, giving them an insight into life after Primary School. Whitgift aims to keep abreast of advances in the curriculum and the teaching resources available to ensure that pupils are exposed to fresh and innovative concepts. Whitgift sees the potential in the visiting pupils and aims to inspire these pupils by showing them what they can achieve during their visit.
During the week the visiting children are introduced to various aspects of Computer Science, intended to support teaching of the Key Stage 2 Computing curriculum. These include: coding with Scratch and BBC Microbits, graphics work, animation, control and simulation, MSW Logo, Robotics and movie making. The Computer Science work undertaken is based on the topic that the pupils are studying at the time they attend the project. This part of the curriculum is run by the Project Coordinator who is a full-time member of the Whitgift staff. Other lessons are delivered by specialist Whitgift teachers who have the Primary Project lessons built into their normal timetable.
As part of their Science allocation, the pupils experience a hands-on Chemistry lesson using Bunsen burners in which they heat a range of substances and record their observations, deciding whether each change is reversible or irreversible. At the end of the lesson the pupils are shown an experiment involving a jelly baby. The pupils are always stunned by the explosive reaction that takes place. Alternatively, the pupils experience a Biology lesson about adaptations, in which they handle and observe different animals. Pupils have two language lessons, currently Italian and Japanese. The children are introduced to culture and geography and take part in games, role plays and singing.
The pupils have a PE lesson with a specialist coach. Their class teacher can choose from a range of sports such as cricket, swimming, football, hockey, rugby or table tennis.
In addition to the curriculum work, pupils are given exposure to some of the exotic wildlife found at the School. The main focus is making observational drawings of the birds in the Water Gardens, giving the children confidence to draw from life, and to observe birds in their natural habitat.
Background
Set up in 2000, the Primary Project was formerly a partnership, consisting of the Croydon Advertiser, Croydon Business and Education Partnership, and Whitgift School. The Primary Project is now funded completely by Whitgift and includes the salary of a full-time member of staff to run the project.
Resources
A member of staff to coordinate and teach the ICT elements of the project; specialist teachers to teach lessons in Science, Music, PE and languages; a yearly budget of £3,000 to cover stationery and purchase of specialist equipment; a dedicated Computer Room suite.
Impact
We hope that pupils enjoy their week and have been inspired in some way. Attendance rates for the class are usually higher throughout their week with us. We often find that some children, who would normally be ‘school refusers’, attend the week without a day of absence. It is not unusual for pupils to mention that they have tried Movie Maker or Scratch when they got home from school.
Pupil Involvement
A class of 30 children from Year 5 or Year 6. Approximately 1,000 children visit Whitgift for the Primary Project every year.
Frequency
9.50am-2pm Monday – Friday, a different school each week. The project runs the whole year round and is fully booked.