Spotlight on Downside Middle School:

The show comes to town! Or it certainly has for pupils of Downside Middle School, who have been working hard in the Extended School Circus Skills workshop to perfect their juggling skills. The course lasted 8 weeks, and was delivered by Youth Worker, Matt Woods, who is part of the Extended School Team at Downside. Matt is a qualified Circus Performer, and through his encouragement, pupils from the school learnt how to Juggle, use the Diablo, spin plates, and most impressively, to Stilt Walk!

The whole school enjoyed the end of term show, but the pupils have now gone on to accompany Matt throughout the Summer Holidays at the Isle of Wight Carnivals. They have joined Matt’s troupe of performers, his’ Circus Crew’ and now have so much confidence, that Street Theatre is something they are getting used to.

Fran Shelley, Extended School Manager at Downside, said ‘ the level of confidence in these pupils has grown significantly ~ we are astonished at the difference in our young people, and congratulate them and Matt on their hard work throughout the Summer’

Matt intends to offer a new Circus Skills workshop at Downside starting in the Autumn Term, to target new students joining the school, and to build on the skills of the older children, who will be encouraged to mentor the new pupils.

Expressive Arts has been timetabled at Downside, so that each school year benefits from intensive exposure to creative expression. Through the support of the Extended School programme, the whole staff team have worked towards the involvement of the school in the Carnivals, and the Rock Challenge programme, which involves dance expression, alongside other schools. The staff at Downside have embraced the ‘whole school’ approach to the Extended School Programme, under the Leadership of Head Teacher, Peter Shaw.

Downside Middle School have teamed up with the Pathfinder Project staff, to deliver Aussie Rules Football as an after school club at Downside. Steve D’Giacoma, and Paul Armstrong, from the Pan Neighbourhood Partnership staff team have been running the weekly club throughout the Summer Term at Downside. Steve, who hails from Australia, has been using his skills as a Football coach, and succeeded in taking a team to Crystal Palace in London for the Youth Games. The ‘Downside Dockers’ team, have had 3 members selected to travel to Denmark later this month to take part in the sport there. This opportunity has enabled 2 pupils to enjoy their first plane flight, and first opportunity to travel to Crystal Palace.

Pan Neighbourhood Partnership have worked on a number of projects with the Extended School at Downside ~ this practice has enabled the funding from the Extended School and the Pathfinder project to have a greater impact on the lives of the Community on Pan. The two organisations are about to evaluate the impact of having 2 Youth Workers employed on site, in the school. The Youth Workers support young people during the school hours, and also run the evening Youth Club provision, on 2 evenings per week. Both posts have been joint funded through the Extended School Funding, and the Pathfinder Funding. The Youth Workers, also support the Extended School Manager to deliver the holiday clubs.