At Park Lane we share a conviction that great schools are built on rich extra-curricular programmes and high quality pastoral care as well as an inspiring curriculum, expertly taught. We know there are no limits for pupils and staff where commitment and enjoyment go together. As members of Griffin Schools Trust we share a belief in the three pillars of Proud Traditions, Wide Horizons and High Achievement and this is reflected in the opportunities that provide for our pupils.

Co-Curricular

Every Park Lane child is exposed to an extensive range of curriculum enrichment activities to broaden their experiences. Through academic excursions to museums, theatres, art galleries and sporting events, as well as inviting a number of workshops in to school, we aim to bring to life the subjects being taught in the classroom.

Extra-Curricular

We encourage pupils to pursue a healthy, active lifestyle, making the most of their existing talents as well as exploring new ideas and opportunities. To enable this we provide a rich variety of creative and sporting after school activities:

• music clubs to foster a love and enjoyment of music making
• drama to boost confidence and creativity
• art classes to develop a love and appreciation of the Arts
• sports to build better social interactions through positive team work
• a variety of wider sub-specific clubs to enthuse a passion and ignite curiosity surrounding our wider subjects

To see a full schedule of after school clubs on offer please ask at the school office. All clubs are offered free of charge.

Trust Engagement

Throughout the year there are a number of Trust-wide events that Park Lane takes part in:

There are a variety of exciting sports events throughout the year, fostering competition and teamwork. These include the Griffin Sports Festival held in October, where students compete in track and field, handball, and football showcasing their diverse abilities. Another highlight is the Griffin National Finals in June, where curling, basketball, infant agility take centre stage. The year culminates in the prestigious crowning of the Sports Personality of the Year. These events provide students with opportunities to excel, build friendships, and celebrate sporting achievements at a Trust-wide level.

Founders Day raises funds to support a cause chosen by students and connected with the theme of the year. In every school the day centres on community: what it means to be a citizen so that students experience the difference they can make individually and collectively. This often lights leadership sparks in our students.

The Griffin Science Symposium (GSS) addresses the Trust theme of the year. Eminent scientists come from the John Innes Centre and the Universities of Oxford, Cambridge and London to give lively talks, demonstrations and workshops to students in years 6 and 7 from all schools.

The Griffin Arts Festival (GAF) is two-fold; all schools run two weeks of events which include performances and activities open to their local communities, plus there is a four day residential for ten Year 5 students from each school. There are now two centres for the GAF residential experience: London and Birmingham, where the competition winners enjoy visits to national arts venues, and workshops with professional choreographers, poets and musicians. The festival ends with our very own Last Night of the Proms concert which itself is preceded by performances from our schools.

By the time they leave primary school, pupils have begun to discover their inner musician, artist, poet, scientist, philosopher, sportsperson or campaigner.

Partnerships

Scholars Programme

Park Lane has been a part of the Scholars Programme initiative, in partnership with the charity, Brilliant Club. The programme is designed to provide children with a taste of university life and build interest in attending higher education.

The Brilliant Club has a community of more than 1,000 PhD tutors, as a result the Scholars Programme has opened the world of academic research to the pupils and provided the opportunity to study university-level topics at an age-appropriate level.

Park Lane pupils work closely with the PhD researchers on topics that very few pupils – in any school – will have had the opportunity to learn about, for example, the role museums play in society. The PhDs shared their subject knowledge and passion for learning with the children during an eight-week period that included seven tutorials and culminates in a challenging final assessment.

Artsmark

Park Lane is proud to have achieved the prestigious Artsmark Gold Award, which recognises and celebrates our school’s commitment to embedding arts and culture at its heart. The Artsmark Award has been created to help unlock the potential of children and young people, to develop their character and talent, and increase their knowledge and understanding. In short, Artsmark has been designed to bring the arts and culture to life in every classroom.

Visit artsmark.org.uk for more information.

Chance to Dance

Drama Partnership with Coram Shakespeare Schools Foundation (Coram SSF)

Park Lane is recognised as a Bronze Shakespeare School. This means we have been recognised and appreciated by Coram Shakespeare Schools Foundation (Coram SSF) for achievements in our commitment to creativity.

Coram SSF is a cultural education charity that gives young people across the UK the confidence to succeed in life. The world’s largest youth drama festival lies at the heart. Every year, thousands of pupils across the country from every community and background participate. Months of preparation culminate in exhilarating performance evenings in professional theatres nationwide, which gives confidence and self-esteem that lasts a lifetime.

Shakespeare wrote of both royalty and rebels and we believe his plays are the best way to bring people together; from uniting a cast to bringing a community into a theatre. We know that what we do has the power to change lives. We are proud of our commitment to the arts, showcasing the talents of our young people, performing to new audiences and sharing the passion, energy and love we feel for the theatre.