The last day of the half term Darton Academy held the first drop-down day of this academic year.  

Every student in each year group participated in sessions focusing on ‘My Health, My Wellbeing, My Safety.’  

The theme of the drop-down day was decided following feedback collected through student, staff, and parental voice, along with the school responding to issues facing our students in the community and wider area. From this feedback it was clear we needed to provide our students with additional opportunities, opportunities for them to gain deeper understanding, along with strategies and ideas to support them in everyday situations they may face as they grow.  

The day was supported by some brilliant external presenters – Split Banana delivered online consent sessions with each of our year groups. 

South Yorkshire Police delivered presentations about the importance of online safety – an issue that everyone continually needs to be aware of.  

We were lucky to be joined for the day by S75 fitness who shared brilliant ideas with our students for how they can fit simple and easy exercise into their day. Our student voice showed that many spend an increasing amount of time using devices – our aim was to show that it is easy to fit some activity into our day. The session leaders were brilliant in adapting ideas so that all our students could gain some ideas for activity. Students then spent the remainder of this session looking at how we can be healthy through a balanced diet.  

Wellbeing was the focus of one of our classroom-based sessions. Looking at a variety of ideas and strategies to support us in having a positive mental health. After looking at and discussing different ideas, students were then given the opportunity to practice some of these. Some classes spent time outdoors focusing on nature, others were creative and used art to develop some mindfulness drawings and origami animals.  

Our KS4 students in years 10 and 11 also participated in a session delivered by HEPSY. This session provided ideas and strategies for revision and preparing for assessments and GCSEs. This giving our students support in how to manage this period of their education.  

Each student throughout the day collected ideas and recorded their thoughts in their drop-down day passport. From this in the very final session of the day they all made promises to themselves for their health, their wellbeing, and their safety.  

We will be revisiting our drop down day theme throughout the year, giving our students the opportunity to reflect and focus on the promises they made to themselves.