Extending the Boundaries of Learning

‘Learning Outside the Classroom’

Meridian Trust’s Vision for Extending the Boundaries of Learning:

‘Meridian Trust provides a breadth of experience through the curriculum and beyond, including an entitlement for all students to educational visits and other activities that enhance and extend the curriculum, including providing a range of opportunities for spiritual, moral, social and cultural education that instils the values of the trust and society more widely…’(Meridian Trust Extending the Boundaries of learning)

Sawtry Village Academy fully embraces the Meridian Trust vision of ‘Extending the Boundaries of Learning’ and ‘Learning outside the classroom’ and encourages, commits and promotes these values through participating in local, national and international trips and visits through bringing in speakers, visiting national museums and participating in many events. We also encourage outdoor lessons in many subject areas and participate in competitions within the trust, locally and nationally.   

We are really excited that Sawtry Village Academy has recently gained the Silver from the Council for Learning Outside the Classroom. This award recognises the work the school does to ensure that we extend the Boundaries of all learners.

We are thrilled to share that we are one of the 16 Meridian Trust secondary and special schools to have achieved the Silver Mark  for Learning Outside the Classroom.

The LOtC Mark is awarded by the Council for Learning Outside the Classroom, championing taking learning beyond the classroom.

Our staff are dedicated to Extending the Boundaries of Learning and passionate about providing practical experiences to prepare our students for the real world. Well done all!

Read the full press release here.

We continue to work with Council for Learning Outside the Classroom to ensure that we expand our offer to include many of the activities below. 

In 2023-24 Sawtry Village Academy ensured 839 students participated in 52 different activities off site.  These included: residential visits to Aberdovey, Duke of Edinburgh expeditions for Bronze and Gold Awards (Peak district, Wales and Scotland), Berlin for a History visit, Year 9 Paris visit, Caythorpe for Year 8 Team Building, Year 7 Outdoor and Adventurous activities at Ferry Meadows, A Level students to Cern and Washington to widen their subject and world knowledge and lastly a Ski visit to Italy.

We spread these opportunities across five years to ensure a balanced, developmental approach that supports both academic and personal growth. Our visits road map enables all students have equal access to enriching experiences.

At Key stage 3 and 4 we have visits in many subjects which have included: Maths, History, Arts, English, Science, D&T, Modern Foreign Languages, Geography, IT, Drama, Media Studies and PE.

We have taken Key Stage 3 on day visits to: Space Centre, Cambridge Art Museum, Cambridge Computer History Museum, Ramsey Fieldwork, Peterborough Theatre, Hunstanton, Ferry Meadows, Ice Skating, Sea Cadets, Canoeing, Colour Run, and a Spelling Bee competition.

At Key Stage 4 we have visits to: London Art museums, Norwich Theatre, Harry Potter Studios, Science Live, Hunstanton Fieldwork, Drama Theatre visit and an English Theatre visit.

Key Stage 5 have experienced day visits to: Cambridge Theatre, London Art museums, Sherringham Fieldwork in Geography, London for a Human Geography investigation, Cambridge Physics Centre lectures at the Cavendish Lab, University of Cambridge, Babraham Institute visit: Biotechnology, 6 top Universities in London, University of Cambridge, University of Lincoln, Apprenticeship Fayre at Cambridge Regional College, University & Apprenticeship Fayre at the University of Bedford.

As a member of Meridian Trust we also subscribe to the Trust wide PLEDGES programme and more information on this can be found here. At the end of the year we celebrate with a Future and PLEDGES week to enhance our students experiences. Everything we have on offer to support our students personal development can be found here.

We have a very comprehensive lunchtime and Session 6 set of activities and a list of these can be found here. We celebrate and publicise the visits and learning we do through our Facebook page and Sawtry SWAY.

We promote a number of challenges at different stages in our students’ lives and these include 44 things to do before you are 14 – The Adventurer and The Discoverer.

We also have a very comprehensive offer to all students who are in receipt of Pupil Premium Funding to ensure we close the experiential gap and this can be found in the Meridian Trust PP charter here.

We have very strong links with local businesses who provide invaluable support and opportunities to enhance our broad and balanced curriculum.

We are also always delighted to hear from new contacts, alumni or businesses who would be interested in working with us. Please contact Mrs. Wheeler cwheeler@sawtryva.org.