Learning outside the Classroom

September 2020 - 2021

Learning Outside The Curriculum

Learning Outside The Curriculum (LOTC) is one of the many benefits of life as a learner at Venturers’ Academy.

It provides an opportunity for the learner to develop new skills and abilities in an are which is not directly related to their subject learning.

For example, learners have been maintaining bicycles, for simple tasks such as changing an inner tube to more complex jobs such as aligning gears.

Secondary Learners have   designed, measured and constructed items such as bird boxes as well as planned for the construction of pallet furniture for the playground.

Younger learners have constructed bug hotels and investigated different ways to make decorations.

These activities bring in a range of skills, some which may be familiar, some may be new.

Many of these we take for granted as adults – but as a young person they appear to be daunting.

Dylan Johnson took part in the construction of bird boxes:

“I didn’t realise how may different things I had to do to make a bird box.

I had to design it on plain paper, draw it out as a scale drawing on squared paper using a ruler, showing each part clearly.

I then had to mark out the pieces of wood exactly according to the plan, using tool to get the angle correct. I then had to cut the wood using a saw, this was difficult as I needed my friends to hold the wood still.

 Once I had cut it I had to drill the holes, hammer in the nails and work out a way for the lid to open!”

Sam Campho - Smith, who also build a bird box, remembers this

“It was difficult to start with as there were a lot of things we hadn’t done, but as we got going, we were able to help each other – some people were better at hammering nails in, some were good at cutting the wood. We made a real team effort, and were really pleased with our bird boxes”

LOTC is also an opportunity for students to choose their own learning – Brunel class designed furniture for their playground, using pallets as the raw materials.

Teacher Miss Davey said – I was very impressed by the designs for my sun lounger -  I had a space for my cup of coffee and a rest for my laptop !!”

At Venturers’ Academy we are looking forward to seeing where the students want to take their learning outside the curriculum for the next year.