Last Thursday’s assembly saw the launch of the Year 9 ‘Lived Well Challenge’  – an initiative about challenging yourself and opening up to new experiences. There is no right answer but rather an opportunity for you to explore who you are and to get to the end of Year 9 having ‘lived well!’

Head of Year 9 Dr. Pearce explained how the challenge works:

There are five strands each containing different options. You need to complete at least 10 of these in total and create a portfolio. Complete one from each strand and then five more. You can pick and choose from each strand: Lifestyle, Identity, Voice, Exploration and Diversity.

Over the course of the year, you will build a portfolio with the various activities recording what you have done. How you record them may be determined by the activity you choose as some specify this, but it could be written, a product, a video or even a podcast. Up to you!

During the year you will have opportunities to submit evidence towards the completed portfolio and have them signed off by the Head of Year. At the end of the year you will submit your completed portfolio with a written reflection of no more than 500 words on the year and the experiences you have had doing it. Your portfolio should show the ten challenges completed with evidence, either in the form of a written reflection, a product, a video, a blog or a podcast.

There will be a checkpoint with one of your tutors each term and a monthly lunchtime drop in session with the Head of Year, who will be able to sign off your activities so you can keep track of your progress.

The deadline for all entries is Thursday June 10.

The most important thing is to have fun and to get to the end of Year 9 having lived well!

The Year 9 LIVED WELL Challenge is heavily inspired, indebted to and borrowed from schemes such as the Girlguiding Baden Powell Award, the National Trust’s 50 Things to do before 11 & 3/4 and the Duke of Edinburgh Award. Similarities are intentional and we are very grateful for their inspiration.