Electives create a collaborative online school environment

Rachel Smith, Head of Lower School & Pastoral Care, shares how Wendover Online School creates a rich and collaborative educational environment.

Small class sizes at Wendover provide a personalised education that allows every child to progress at their own pace and thrive. But does this mean pupils are isolated? Parents might worry that their child will feel restricted within their teaching groups. At Wendover  we involve pupils in collaborative projects that extend their understanding of the world.  Exploring issues through electives means we can take a different approach. We ensure they work in different teams and meet online with a wide range of people.

A rich selection of elective modules

We know how important it is for children to have different experiences to challenge and inspire them. These create shared memories which shed new light on other areas of the curriculum.

This is why we instigated a programme of elective modules across the school year involving all of our pupils across Key Stages 2 and 3. The modules take about half a term, and offer choices in areas you might not expect online. Topics include art, music, design and food technology.

Learning in different groups

Students are placed in different groups for electives. They may be taking part in whole-school activities for Year 5 to Year 8, or in small but vertical (across ages) teaching groups. This allows them to interact in a different way and learn from each other.

The sessions are also a good opportunity for our teachers to see the students in different contexts. Teachers will sit in on the sessions to ensure they can reflect learning from the session in subsequent lessons across the curriculum.

Electives develop learning for life

We are delighted that Wendover’s series of elective modules are proving so effective. By introducing broader activities and academic disciplines we help students build their creative thinking skills and place their learning in a new context. They become active learners, confident in communicating and presenting, able to ask questions and enjoy finding out about different people and issues.

More importantly, perhaps, our electives are just one example of the many ways in which we ensure our students benefit from interaction with a range of people across many different areas. You are always welcome to discuss with us how we ensure our students have a rich and varied experience.

If you think online education means lonely education, think again!