SHINE

LEH's SHINE enrichment programme, 'Serious Fun on Saturdays', has been running for over 10 years. Although paused for the academic year 2020-2021 due to COVID, the programme returned in Autumn 2021. 

The sessions are led by teachers from LEH with members of the Sixth Form acting as mentors. The programme includes: British Sign Language, Dance, Debating, Drama, Fencing, French, Food Technology, History, Mindfulness, Music, Psychology, Philosophy and Spanish; alongside English, Mathematics and Science. 

Aims

The key aim is to engender a love of learning through fun activities where pupils explore subjects and ideas outside the National Curriculum.  

The sessions can also help with preparing Year 5 pupils for the big move to secondary school, including introducing them to new subjects and gaining confidence in being in a new, larger environment and meeting with other pupils and new teachers. 

Resources

Teaching and non teaching staff give their time to teach the sessions on a Saturday morning along with Sixth Form mentors who support the Year 5 during their sessions. 

Impact

Studies have shown that similar projects at other schools have helped to raise attainment across the board for the pupils attending, in addition to providing a tremendous opportunity for students to get to know other pupils of a similar age and with similar interests from different schools. 

A number of SHINE students have sat the 11+ entrance exam at LEH and go on to join us at Year 7, even becoming SHINE Mentors themselves in Sixth Form. 

Feedback from parents:

“My daughter had an amazing time, looked forward to every Saturday and returned home full of energy and keen to discuss the day’s learning.  A great experience.  Thank you.”

“Our daughter had such an amazing experience.  She was excited to come and learn each time, and developed at so many levels.  Thank you for making this possible.”

“A great experience and inspiring mentors.”

“A big thank you for such an amazing time offered to our daughter.  She has enjoyed every minute of it and come home very happy and excited every time."

“It’s rain that grows flowers, not thunder, and my daughter has definitely enjoyed her “freedom to express” in your sessions.  Thank you so much for this opportunity.  Warm regards.”

Pupil Involvement

The programme consists of a 12 week course, targeted at girls in Year 5 from 15 partnership local primary schools. 

Frequency

The SHINE programme runs every academic year from November to March. 

Lessons and subject fields change and evolve annually, as do the teaching staff who are involved, so content is always fresh, challenging and exciting.