A confident child is more likely to be happy and successful; more likely to win friends, take calculated risks and cope well with challenges. So, how can we help all children develop the confidence and other life skills that will support them well beyond their school years?
At Wendover Online School we have developed a strong pastoral system to give our students the opportunities to learn outside the curriculum. We foster a positive attitude, encouraging students to try new things and establish a mindset that sees a challenge as a learning experience. As a result, parents are delighted with the life skills of our online students, as well as their academic success.
Here are a few of the ways we help our online students develop outside the classroom:
Tutorials
Like the rest of society, many young people struggle with their mental health, due in part to the stresses of social media and the pandemic. Staff at Wendover work hard to develop secure teacher-student relationships where learners are helped to enjoy their classes as well as their hobbies and other interests, and learn how to work with others.
“Our tutors provide one-to-one support and encouragement for every pupil, understanding the student’s interests and hobbies,” confirms Rachel Smith, Head of Pastoral Care at Wendover. “In group tutorials, students also discuss topics ranging from political events to quarrels on social media, all of which helps them develop their broader understanding of their world. They learn to voice their opinions clearly and treat others respectfully – invaluable life lessons.”
Assemblies
Assemblies are the perfect opportunity for a whole school to join together on a regular basis and share their thoughts. At an online school like Wendover, we can bring pupils of all ages and abilities together in assemblies and give each child an equal voice before the whole school community.
“We find our assemblies motivational for both staff and children,” says founder, Sarah Bacon. “We structure the time to share what different classes have been studying, praise special effort and celebrate achievements. We also invite inspiring guests to share their experiences with us. Assemblies are a great way for us to nurture confidence and broaden our pupils’ horizons.”
School Council
Our new School Council has provided a wonderful opportunity for every pupil to influence and enrich our school community. Representatives from each age group are developing their organisational and leadership skills, whilst learning how to promote the views of their fellow students and making a real impact on school life. In fact, our School Council project was initiated by an individual pupil. His success in establishing and reviewing this ‘student voice’ has boosted his confidence and self-worth, and impressed his peers!
After-school activities
Many parents worry that their children will miss out on after-school clubs and activities if they join an online school. But at Wendover we know how important such activities can be in helping to educate the whole child, and the potential to inspire a lifelong passion. We are excited to offer a wide range of extra-curricular clubs giving pupils the chance to try out new activities, appreciate the skills of others, and make new friends.
Our clubs take place on weekday afternoons or evenings after formal lessons have finished for the day, and we are able to pack a lot of fun into that time! Activities change regularly, but currently include options such as:
- Baking Club: follow along with Baking Around the World – new recipes every week to try at home.
- Photography Club: learn how to get the best from your phone’s camera including on-phone tricks and editing.
- Debating Club: express your opinions, disagree politely and persuade more effectively, with helpful tips and tricks.
- Art Club:an opportunity to express yourself in different media, including pottery, textiles, 3D modelling, drawing and painting.
- Creative Writing Club: the chance to explore a wider range of techniques for fun.
Meet-ups in real life
Of course, support for our online students includes opportunities to meet up IRL (in real life). We offer meet-ups in the UK either in London or regionally, usually with an interest focus e.g. Van Gogh immersive experience, Bletchley Park, British Museum, Oxford Colleges.
We also started a school-wide initiative ‘50+ Achievements’ in September 2023. Students are challenged to try out new activities and interests and in doing so they are introduced to things they may not have come across before. Activities include sport, drama, music, mindfulness, helping others, consideration of the world at large.
As a school, we also support our parents and students to find local activities. Before a student starts at Wendover their head of year meets with the family to discuss the local opportunities which we have researched.
Life lessons from an online school
We’re proud to show that being an online school does not limit us to just teaching the curriculum. We have a skilled team of online teachers who are keen to encourage our pupils in any way they can. Our pastoral support extends beyond physical and mental health to embed lifelong attitudes that build success.
On top of all this, our core focus is to see each child as an individual and nurture their talent. In our small classes of no more than six students, our teachers quickly get to know each child and understand what they need to develop both their academic knowledge and their life skills. It’s a winning combination.
