Reach Beyond

Reach Beyond aims to enable pupils to make informed decisions about their wellbeing, health and relationships and to build their self-efficacy through a daily 30 minute lesson. Through Reach Beyond pupils will also be able to put this knowledge into practice as they develop the capacity to make sound decisions when facing risks, challenges and complex contexts. These sessions will support our young people to develop resilience, to know how and when to ask for help, and to know where to access support.

Reach Beyond encompasses a variety of personal development activities under one all encompassing lesson that takes place each day after break time. All pupils will have two weeks of REACH Time lessons that include statutory PSHE and RSE content, with each year group for the final 4 weeks of each term following a bespoke pathway depending on the key stage. Below is an example of a typical terms structure across the school:

The components of Reach Beyond are REACH Time, STEM, Community Common Room (CCR), Reading Weeks, Targeted academic support (TASP) and Reach Out.

REACH Time

REACH Time is 9-11 lessons during the first two weeks of each half-term covering relationships, equity, aspirations, citizenship and health. Lessons cover all of the statutory guidance for schools regarding Relationships Education, Relationships and Sex Education (RSE).

Reading Weeks

Reading Weeks have been introduced to replace Reach for a Book due to the changes to the school day so that we are able to:

  • Assess pupils’ reading in terms of decoding and comprehension

  • Provide opportunities for pupils to read for pleasure

  • Provide opportunities for pupils to develop their vocabulary and comprehension

  • Intervene to support struggling readers

In summary, Reading Weeks will engage pupils in reading for pleasure and for progress.

Targeted Academic Support

Pupils in year 10, 11, 12 and 13 are enrolled in small group targeted academic support lessons with their teachers. These sessions are used to help pupils progress with specific areas of the curriculum. When pupils are not in these sessions they have independent study where departments direct them on what work should be completed to ensure academic success.

STEM

Year 7 pupils will have 5 STEM lessons each half term that take on a project format

Each project aims to develop different skills and allow pupils to apply prior learning in a practical setting. Projects are designed and resourced by the STEM coordinators and delivered by the year 7 Assistant Teachers. Pupils present their findings and final projects at the end of each week allowing them to reflect on research completed, the design process and lessons learnt in building the final product.

Community Common Room

Community common room draws on pupil experiences and allows them to become educated in ways to give back to the local community and what it means to be good citizens. 

  • Years 7, 8 and 9 will have one project each over the course of the school year

  • Year 7 pupils will plan, resource and run a stall at the Rickmansworth Christmas fair with proceeds being donated to charity.

  • Year 8 pupils will run an afternoon tea event for elderly relatives and people in the local community.

  • Year 9 pupils will take part in a First Give event to raise money for charities of their choice. Teams will create proposals and finally be judged with the winning team earning £1000 for their chosen charity.

Reach Out

To read about the sixth form Reach Out programme, click here