Enrichment

Enrichment is all about boosting your overall wellbeing to help you to perform at your best while at college.

You can improve your study performance through curricular Enrichments and enjoy time away from your studies through extra-curricular Enrichments.

You will be invited by your teachers to join any curricular Enrichments; meanwhile, you will choose at least one extra-curricular Enrichment to engage with for fun.

Our extra-curricular Enrichment provision gives you varied opportunities to try something new or develop an interest alongside your main studies. Some are based online while others are conducted in person.

So, whether you want to meet new people, improve skills to support your UCAS application, or just have fun, we have an activity to suit you.

You can see the full list of extra-curricular Enrichments below:

Enrichment options

3D Printing

This Enrichment option will introduce you to the unlimited world of 3D printing. You will learn how to design a 3D object using Tinkercad, transfer it to another software programme to prepare it for printing and then print it in resin using a 3D printer. This opportunity is available to anyone who would like to try their hand at designing something new.

Adobe Masterclass

Adobe logos

You can develop your skills in using Adobe applications such as After Effects, Illustrator, Photoshop and Premiere Pro by selecting this Enrichment option. Importantly, you will have access to the College’s wide range of multimedia hardware assets, as well as teachers who will give you all the hints and tips you need to unlock the potential of this powerful software range. As a result, you will become even more adept at creating outstanding content that moves people.

Archaeology

Person cleaning bricks in bowl of water

Come and gain hands-on experience in how archaeologists discover, analyse and interpret the lives of humans from the past. This Enrichment option encompasses logic, science and imagination, and is open to anyone. Archaeology represents a unique stepping-stone between the arts and the sciences. And because it is all about human behaviour, it will give you skills, knowledge and insights that you can transfer to other areas of your learning.

Boost

Would you like to learn some general tips and strategies for remaining calm during exam time or busy periods of study? This Enrichment is open to everyone who would like to learn some effective calming and problem-solving ideas that can help your overcome nerves and anxiety.

Brock2Africa

The Brock2Africa Enrichment option leads to a ten-day volunteering trip in Kenya. Weekly sessions will prepare you through project work, travel information (including vaccination details) and cultural knowledge. You will also fundraise and collect donations to distribute in Kenya. At Brock we support local projects in the city of Nakuru, working at various schools and nurseries to help orphaned street children who live in deprived areas. In Kenya, you will be involved in the daily feeding programme, classroom activities, teaching, and games and activities for ages 3-16. You will also go on safari, tour the Great Rift Valley and visit elephant and giraffe sanctuaries. This is a life-changing opportunity to support children through the College’s work in Kenya. Personal costs will total approximately £2,100.

Business Enterprise

This Enrichment opportunity will see you join a small team that will design, create, market and sell a business idea. Each team will be given a small start-up loan and your challenge will be to turn this into a profit. Importantly, this is a prime opportunity for you to develop your business skills and team working abilities.

Chinese

Chinese is by nearly one-fifth of the world’s population and has become increasingly important as a language of global business. This Enrichment opportunity will enable you to become familiar with the language’s structure and give you the ability to introduce yourself and order goods and services. You will also have the freedom to decide, along with your fellow learners, which cultural topics you wish to cover in depth.

College Newspaper

If you are a skilled writer and want the experience of working as a reporter to enhance your CV and/or UCAS application, or as the first step in a journalistic career, then this Enrichment option is the opportunity for you. You will learn about news formulas, structure, editing, production and important aspects of media law. If being a reporter is not your thing, maybe you could engage with this opportunity as a budding columnist, crafting arguments that may cause readers to agree or strongly disagree.

Cooking on a Budget

Whether you want to prepare for university life, living independently, or just like cooking, this is the Enrichment opportunity for you. Hard Brock Café staff will take you on a six-week culinary journey charting exactly how to cook good food on a tight budget, enabling you to enjoy eating and save money at the same time. You will cook a different meal from scratch each week, and it does not matter about your level of cooking experience. Everyone is welcome.

Creative Writing

If you love to write or would just like to try your hand at writing, then simply select this Enrichment option to discover the endless possibilities of creative writing. Together we will learn about and discuss a multitude of styles and techniques, which you can then emulate, develop, adapt or interweave to create original literary works. Budding novelists, poets, scriptwriters and journalists will all have the opportunity to bring work along to share with likeminded group members and obtain useful feedback. You can also enter your work in both internal and external competitions.

Criminology

There are many questions criminologists try to answer, such as: ‘Why does someone become a criminal?’; ‘Who should go to prison?’; ‘Can humans become good lie detectors?’; and ‘What makes someone guilty of a crime in the eyes of the law?’. By choosing this Enrichment option you can explore and discuss criminological theories to help answer these questions and many others. There will also be opportunities to take part in practical activities and group problem-solving tasks.

Cultural Exchange

Spanish Exchange Students enjoying dinner

This Enrichment will enhance your understanding and appreciation of another culture. Working with one of our partner schools overseas, you will participate in weekly sessions by video call. You will work in a small group to present an aspect of your culture to your peers in another country and answer any questions they may have. On alternate weeks our overseas partners will present an aspect of their culture to you. You will also develop skills and confidence in preparing and delivering presentations, as well as learn how to adapt your delivery to suit your audience. Subject to travel restrictions you may also be able to take part in an exchange trip with a partner school.

Dance

This is a unique opportunity to learn different styles of dance including jazz, contemporary and commercial. No matter what your level of ability and experience, this option is open to everyone. You will have the opportunity to choreograph, perform, make new friends and improve your fitness and confidence.

Getting into law & debating

Our Debating Society is perfect for you if you are looking to enhance your evaluative, critical thinking and analytical skills. It will also help you to stay up to date with current affairs, as well as social and moral issues. In addition, you will develop your confidence by practising public speaking in small group debates. Anyone is welcome to join and we highly recommend this Enrichment opportunity to anyone seeking a career in law or politics.

Driving Theory

This Enrichment opportunity will help you prepare for your driving theory test by covering all its main components. These include hazard awareness, safety margins, rules of the road, road signs, motorway driving, vehicle loading, incidents, accidents and emergencies. The programme will also include plenty of practice questions and mini quizzes to help you prepare fully for your test.

Dungeons and Dragons

Dungeons and Dragons is a creative adventure game that builds stories you will tell again and again – ranging from the stuff of legend to absurd incidents that will have you in stitches. All of this is determined by a roll of the dice and your decision to sign up for this fun and relaxing Enrichment opportunity.

Film Bootcamp

Film Bootcamp represents an ideal introduction to the fundamental techniques of film making. You will learn about safe practice, use of kit, basic lighting techniques and key aspects of recording high-quality sound. You will also learn about purposeful camera movement, focal length and lenses, as well as the impact of these variables on the image. This Enrichment option is specifically designed to give you the best start for becoming a well-rounded film practitioner.

Five-a-side Football

Indoor football match

Whatever your footballing ability, we will welcome you to enjoy this popular form of the beautiful game through this Enrichment option. Importantly, you will have opportunities to play competitively or just for fun on our AstroTurf pitches. As well as getting exercise, you will be able to improve your speed, agility, teamwork, cooperation, ball skills and tactical play. You will also meet new people and receive first-class mentoring from our specialist football coaches.

Gym

This Enrichment opportunity will give you open access to the gym, supported by our Sports team, to help you reach your physical goals. Whether you are looking for an introductory plan or you are a fitness fanatic, this programme will enable you to reach your goals.

Health and Wellbeing Training

Yoga pose

This Enrichment will provide a fun and safe environment to learn about health and wellbeing. Importantly, it will provide tips to assist you with both your physical health and mental health, as well as the physical and mental health of others. You will also learn about First Aid and acquire the practical competence required to help someone with minor physical injuries and illnesses. There will be opportunities to gain a certificate of attendance for Mental Health First Aid Awareness and Basic Life Support, with the potential to progress to Level 2 First Aid for Youth Mental Health and Emergency First Aid at Work.

Healthy Relationships – he/they

Healthy relationships involve honesty, trust, respect and open communication between partners. Importantly, they require effort and compromise from both parties. Indeed, there should be no imbalance of power. Partners should respect each other’s independence, make their own decisions without fear of retribution and share decisions. And, if or when a relationship ends, there should be no stalking or refusal to let the other partner go. These open sessions will be an opportunity for group discussions covering important topics such as consent, domestic violence, abusive partners and sexual harassment. Led by qualified staff, they can either be used as a drop-in or attended regularly.

Healthy Relationships – she/they

LGBTQ+

The LGBTQ+ Enrichment opportunity provides a safe space to meet new friends and receive support. Every year we run different events and make new things happen. For example, the LGBTQ+ Tea Party and the introduction of gender-neutral toilets were two recent initiatives put forward by the group.

Life Drawing

Life Drawing will enable you to develop your drawing skills through the study of anatomy and the human figure (nude). During this Enrichment programme you will produce a series of large-scale drawings, working directly from a model and exploring a variety of materials and approaches. Your work may be added to A Level projects where appropriate and is highly valued when included in an interview portfolio for any art and design specialism (particularly animation, fashion, fine art and architecture).

Maths Challenge

Maths Challenge is an Enrichment option aimed at anyone who likes solving logic and number problems. You might like to attend as preparation for the inter-college Maths Challenge competition, which is held every year in November. Other sessions might focus on GCHQ codebreaking and other historical feats of mathematics. You can even bring in problems to challenge your fellow learners. These could include anything from orbital mechanics concepts to Sudoku puzzles.

Minecraft

This Enrichment option is an opportunity work on a collaborative Minecraft project decided by the group during the first session. You will work on constructing the project throughout the programme, all while having fun… As an educational game, Minecraft can give you a range of skills to add to your CV, including improved creativity, communication, teamwork, problem-solving and time management.

Music Ensemble

This Enrichment option is designed for all instrumentalists, with content tailored around genres that best suit specific instruments. Historically we have maintained a string quartet, brass ensemble and wind band with percussion at Brock, exploring everything from classical music to jazz. During the year you will play in the Performing Arts Academy Showcase, giving you even more evidence of performance musicianship for your growing CV.

Music Theory

If you want to improve your music reading skills, or your knowledge of how pieces are composed, Music Theory will be a useful Enrichment option for you. This extra learning opportunity is an ideal way to build your theoretical knowledge as a musician or music technician. You can choose to take ABRSM grades in Music Theory; however, this is not compulsory. The main goal is to simply enjoy yourself among likeminded people.

Musical Production

Music Student with microphone

Every year participants in this Enrichment option present a musical production that wows audiences and inspires performers to seek their next big stage opportunity. Acting, singing and dancing are the three core performance skills that bring a musical production to life. And if you have something to offer, we will certainly welcome you aboard. Musical Theatre is also an opportunity for budding directors, lighting designers, costume designers, set designers and logistics people to shine.

Photography

You can boost your digital photography skills by selecting this Enrichment option, which will introduce you to important functions and fun techniques associated with digital photography. Did you know? Almost everyone has a digital camera, but very few people know how to use them to their full potential. Importantly, this programme will teach you how to harness the various features of your digital camera and how to really catch what the eye sees.

Psychology and Criminology

Psychology is the scientific study of the human mind that helps us understand ourselves, others and the world in which we live. It is a subject that draws on your transferable skills and adds colour to your growing CV of achievements and interests. Meanwhile, there are many questions criminologists try to answer, such as: ‘Why does someone become a criminal?’; ‘Who should go to prison?’; ‘Can humans become good lie detectors?’; and ‘What makes someone guilty of a crime in the eyes of the law?’. By choosing this Enrichment option you can combine these two areas of social science to uncover consequential dynamics and deduce important answers.

Robotics

The Robotics Enrichment option is a prime opportunity to develop your science, engineering and teamwork skills by designing, building and programming a fully autonomous robot. Your robot will compete against other robots from schools and colleges across the UK and Europe in an exhilarating and gruelling two-day competition. The programme will be organised by University of Southampton undergraduates who will support you throughout the six-month design, test and development stage.

Students' Union

Our Students’ Union (SU) Enrichment option is your chance to get involved with decision-making at the College and bring about positive change. The SU meets every week to champion the student voice. It also runs Student Parliaments and takes suggestions and queries forward to the College’s Senior Management Team. There are several SU committees, with remits including Education, Events, Health & Welfare and the Environment. Executive SU members also initiate charitable fundraising drives.

Vets and Medics

This Enrichment option provides a useful boost for students interested in applying to study a Higher Education programme in Medicine, Veterinary Science or Dentistry. Each week you will discuss topical issues such as the four pillars of ethics, NHS core values and new scientific advancements. Expert advice will also be provided on how to make a successful application to your first-choice university. To this end you will receive support to assist you with your personal statement, interviews and admissions exams.

Vocal Ensemble

Come and be part of a lively choir that sings a range of songs including hits from contemporary music and musical productions. This Enrichment option is your chance to perform with others and delve into the musical universe for pure enjoyment. Importantly, this opportunity is suitable for singers of all abilities.