As part of that mission, Brooke Weston Academy introduced an ‘Enrichment Week’ earlier this year- a fun and engaging programme that took learning beyond the classroom. Students got involved in all sorts of creative, hands-on activities like trips, workshops, and themed projects during the summer term, all aimed at expanding their experiences and building new skills.

Exploring Enrichment Week and its benefits at Brooke Weston Academy

Enrichment Lead at Brooke Weston Academy, Amber Colquhoun, led the project across the school. She said: “The main purpose is to encourage exploration, creativity, and community by offering students opportunities to try new things, develop life skills, and build relationships in a fun, supportive environment.

“Enrichment Week allowed students to explore new interests, connect with different peers across year groups, and enjoy learning in an enriching and engaging environment. It has strengthened our sense of community and offered meaningful experiences that extended beyond academic outcomes. A ‘Ticket for life’ experience!”

A snapshot of Enrichment Week activities

Activities were chosen to reflect a balance of academic enrichment, STEM activities, physical challenge, creativity, and career development. They were designed to cater to a wide range of interests and abilities, often involving external partners and real-world experiences.

Activities that the students participated in were varied, ranging from ‘Gardening Design and Sustainability’ enabling students to be hands-on with nature in a creative and collaborative school grounds project, ‘STEM-Engineering’ where students delved into the exciting world of engineering through practical activities and problem solving, to a ‘Bushcraft Adventure’ experience for Year 7 and 8 to practice their survival skills. ‘Northampton Town FC Football Club’ offered three days of training by professional coaches, while others immersed themselves in the world of ‘Performance, Media and Theatre’.

A renewed enthusiasm for learning

During Enrichment Week, students engaged in a range of activities that built key skills like problem-solving, creativity, and teamwork. In forensic science and the ‘Trapp’d’ escape room, they applied real techniques to solve challenges, while theatre workshops at the Corby Cube developed their acting, writing, and design skills.

These real-world experiences boosted students' confidence, independence, and enthusiasm for learning. They also encouraged resilience, communication, and pride in achievement. The week embodied our shared values of Working Together and Contributing to Society, as students collaborated across year groups, supported one another, and engaged with the wider community.

 

Highlights of the week

Sharing a highlight of the week, Amber reflected: “A standout moment was seeing the excitement and energy across the academy. It has been a joy to hear the laughter and see the determination and teamwork in every group. It was also incredibly rewarding to witness the strengthening of relationships between students and staff. Enrichment Week gave staff the chance to engage with students outside of the classroom, allowing both to connect in new ways and build mutual respect through shared experiences.”

Some students visited Boughton House, gaining insight into aristocratic life, art, and architecture. Will, Year 9, said: “We learnt about the back story of Boughton House and the period of time it was made. It was a good day out and interesting seeing the paintings around the building.” Julius Ciobanu added, “The entire experience was great because we had tonnes of privileges such as hearing from tour guides at Boughton House and the best bit was seeing the armoury.”

Miss Du Buisson, who contributed to the Great Outdoors Enrichment week activities, shared: “a massive well done to all our students for their enthusiasm, exemplary behaviour, and amazing team spirit throughout the week. You've made us proud!”

Future plans for Enrichment Week

Building on this year’s success, Brooke Weston Academy plans to expand the programme further in 2026, with a particular focus on adding enriching residential opportunities to run alongside the new Enrichment programme.