Stop the Clock at Barlby High!

Regular lessons were off the agenda at Barlby High School for a full day last week, as students from Years 7-11 took part in their Stop the Clock Day.

The school has five Stop the Clock Days during the year which are designed to enhance the every-day curriculum, giving students access to a wide variety of activities.

Each year group took part in different activities for the day. The Archbishop of York’s Youth Trust officially launched their Key Stage 3 Young Leaders Award with the Year 7 students and for students in Years 8 and 9 it was all about their future and potential career options. In their ‘Where can my options take me?’ day, Year 8 students took part in a carousel of sessions looking at the careers they could go into depending on the options they choose.  They were also privileged to hear from guest speaker and former Vice Chancellor of the University of Northumbria, Professor Kel Fidler, who spoke about his career in Engineering.

Year 9 students enjoyed a speed networking event with representatives from a whole host of different professions and organisations, including Greencore, Selby District Council, the RAF, the police and Drax. Teamwork and competition focused the minds of students in Years 10 and 11 as they took part in a stock market challenge, led by NYBEP, the education business partnership. 

Barlby High School Principal, Miss Julie Caddell said “The Stop the Clock Days are hugely important for our young people. For a day, they get the chance to come off timetable and experience a variety of activities across many areas of study which help them to develop their Social, Moral, Spiritual and Cultural Education. We want our students to question, stop and think about their futures, have aspirations and have access to opportunities they may not have otherwise.

“Everyone had a great day, but we couldn’t have done it without the support of all our external partners and colleagues – a huge thank you to everyone who came along to work with our students.”

Previous Stop the Clock Days have included educational visits to the Thackeray Museum to develop Science and Health & Social Care studies and the National Railway Museum to explore engineering opportunities; inter-form sports days to develop team work and encourage a healthy lifestyle; and welcoming inspirational speakers including survivors of the Holocaust.

Barlby High School is part of the Hope Sentamu Learning Trust alongside Manor CE Academy, Vale of York Academy and three primary schools: Poppleton Ousebank, Burton Green and Forest of Galtres.