This enrichment club is perfect for students who love to ask “why?”, “what if?” and “how?”, for those students who are curious about the world around them, and beyond!

The Big Questions, held on Wednesday lunchtimes, is a forum for exciting, relevant and topical discussion and debate. Students are given the opportunity to explore and discuss philosophical, theological and ethical questions, to help them come to know and understand more about the world, themselves and one another.

Questions often fall in line with the school’s theme of the week, which means our school values and ethos are reinforced and explored further.

We ask questions such as:

• “Are we all equal?”
• “Why do we exist?”
• “Is everyone deserving of forgiveness?”
• “Is there an afterlife?”
• “Does charity begin at home?”
• “Why does God allow suffering?”

Many of the questions raised in this group correspond with topics explored in our RE curriculum, adding breadth and depth to students’ learning and understanding of a topic. Students are encouraged to think of their own big questions, giving them a chance to explore topics close to their heart. Debating and public speaking skills are enhanced and developed through our discussions and the safe and welcoming environment in which the forum takes place helps build self-esteem and confidence in our students. This club helps students to become more tolerant of other people’s values, principles and beliefs, strengthening their ability to actively listen and respect one another.

Book Club Vision
The Book Club, currently in the form of the Brilliant Books team, allows students in Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 to share and foster their love of books – fiction and non-fiction. Through Book Club students will explore new authors, share recommendations, take part in and organise activities and events such as World Book Day and World Book Night. The group also forms a focus group which guides library purchases, keeping them fresh and relevant.

Developing student character through Book Club
Research has shown that students who read for pleasure have a significant advantage, academically. The Book Club gives students the space to explore new ideas and genres, and encourages them to explore new genres and their own critical voice . Students in Key Stage 4 have become informal mentors, helping younger students to progress in their reading by being fantastic role models and by recommending often more challenging reading. By sharing their reading, students also serve the wider school community in shaping the school library and helping to promote reading in the school in a relevant and vibrant way.

Chaplaincy Team Vision

The vision of Chaplaincy at SFX is to make Christ known and loved by living-out our school ethos and values. This vision permeates the whole school, but is enriched and enhanced on a much deeper level through the groups and events provided by our Chaplaincy.

The Chaplaincy Team meets every Tuesday lunch time, and is made-up of students across all year groups. Students are given the opportunity to plan, prepare, deliver and participate in acts of worship, be these collective or individual. The research involved in doing this means students are developing ICT and literacy skills in order to produce PowerPoint Presentations, create posters, write prayers and create reflections. Their ability to speak publicly is strengthened, and confidence levels are increased as students are encouraged to lead the worship and share thoughts and ideas with one another.

Developing character through Chaplaincy Team

The Chaplaincy Team provides an open, welcoming and non-judgmental space for students to come together in faith, feeling safe and comfortable to express and explore their beliefs and relationship with God.

Through the Chaplaincy Team, students are able to further explore liturgical events and celebrations as well as special cultural occasions such as Remembrance, Advent and Lent, or Black History Month, and National Holocaust Memorial Day. There may be lunch time liturgies to reflect and celebrate such occasions, or forums for discussion and debate. All of these things give students the opportunity to put our school ethos and values into action, allowing them to make Christ known and loved within our school and in wider society.

All students of any faith background or none are encouraged to come along and be part of our ever-growing Chaplaincy Team.