Bedford Free School believes that pupils should have access to a wide range of experiences.
While we know that exam success is really important, we also believe that the focus of a great school curriculum should extend pupils experiences. In many schools, these are after-school or lunchtime clubs which we believe are of great value. Our enhanced curriculum, in the form of electives, has been shaped around these beliefs. However to guarantee participation and widen access for all of our pupils, our clubs are compulsory. We think they are so important that they make up and integral part of our school day, in which everyone is expected to take part and no child will miss out.
Electives are specific to BFS and we are very proud of the programme as we feel that it helps to create not just academic, but well rounded students. These are similar to after school clubs, but they take place within the timetabled curriculum and provide the students with an incredibly broad range of activities that would not be possible to deliver in a normal after school setting. This is how we ensure that almost all of our pupils access extra-curricular activities and ensure that all pupils are able to make significant progress towards their academic goals. We also use this time to ensure that pupils who have been unable to be present, through no fault of their own, are able to catch up so that they do not fall behind. We call this ‘catch-up club’.
The elective activities change each term to give students a variety of choices and experiences. It also provides staff at BFS the opportunity to share their skills and expertise from outside of school and we work with a wide range of external supplier’s to supplement what can be offered to BFS students. Rowing, poetry, foreign language leaders, code club and sports are just some of the electives available. These high-quality enrichment opportunities include sports, activities, leadership and community-based service.
Upon graduating from BFS, pupils will have experienced success in their GCSEs. Through our morning address, experience of the enhanced curriculum and the knowledge that we pack into the academic curriculum, they will also be leaving us as well-rounded individuals ready to make a difference to their community and to society in general.
In short they will be ready both for university and to make a difference in the community and in the nation.
Please click the link to see our latest Electives offer for Spring Term Spring Elective Options
Sport
At BFS we encourage all our students to have a full and active involvement in sport.
In the PE department we strive to give students as many sporting opportunities as possible and are proud of the high numbers of students we have participating.
Students at BFS go offsite for PE lessons to venues such as the International Athletics Stadium, Bunyan Centre double sided sports hall and Kings Oak Primary School. This gives our students top class facilities in which to learn.
We aim to include every student at BFS in school fixtures, if a student wants to represent the school in a fixture, then they will. Fixtures run every day at BFS throughout the school year, for every year group and both genders.
BFS has a proud tradition of leadership in sport. Students from all year groups have the opportunity to visit local primary schools and lead on different community sports events in order to develop their leadership skills.
The PE department run numerous sports trips each year to expose students to professional sport and venues. Students can expect to visit MK Dons, Northants CCC and MK Lightning Ice Hockey for matches, plus take part in stadium tours of world renowned venues such as Wembley Stadium and Lords.
Music for all
Our ‘Music for All’ scheme enables every child in Key Stage 3 to learn a musical instrument. Students will have whole-class violin or guitar lessons once a week. This is in addition to their weekly curriculum music lessons. Through ‘Music for All’, every student will be taught how to read from musical notation as well as perform within an class ensemble; which are amongst some of the skills required when studying for their GCSE Music.
BFS is also privileged to be collaborating with the Salvation Army, for their ‘Just Brass’ programme, which offers all students the opportunity to learn a brass instrument at no cost. Students rehearse twice a week in preparation for concerts throughout the year. Currently, we have our own BFS Brass Band of 40+ players.
Pupils are therefore able to join our school orchestras very easily and have enormous numbers of opportunities to perform to parents and the community.
