At Blackpool Aspire Academy, learning beyond the classroom is a vital ingredient to providing a successful educational experience that engages students of all ages. Curriculum Enrichment is a core focus to raise aspirations, broaden horizons, and build essential life skills.
The 2026/2027 Entitlement (Enrichment) Programme focuses on the 5 new pillars of enrichment: Civic engagement, Arts and culture, Nature, outdoors and adventure, Sport and physical activities, Developing wider life and future skills.
Higher Education & Raising Aspirations
- University Partnerships: Multi-year support with Lancaster University, the University of Cumbria, Liverpool Hope, the University of Lancashire and Edge Hill University.
- Campus Immersions: Interactive higher education visits at Liverpool Hope University, Liverpool John Moores University and creative industry animation and textile sessions at ULan.
- Parental Engagement: Dedicated evenings covering apprenticeships, university introductions and student finance.
Workplace Encounters & Careers
- Statutory Insights: Fully integrated, statutory workplace encounter days for KS3 students (25h by the time they complete KS3).
- Industry Collaborations: Innovation challenges, assemblies, and focus groups with major employers like BAE, DELL Technologies, CGI, DWP, and Balfour Beatty.
- Targeted workshops in partnership with JP Morgan to eliminate NEET risk and secure career pathways for Year 8, Year 9 and Year 10 students.
STEM & Academic Boosters
- Residential Experiences: Physics residentials at Cambridge University's Cavendish Laboratory, alongside geographical field studies at Castlehead Fieldwork centre, international MFL connections and English and History workshops.
- Cutting-Edge Technology: MOD Cyber Security Mega days, digital coding, robotics.
- Pillars of Growth: Specialised science booster modules covering National Security, Clean Energy, Nuclear, and Advanced Manufacturing.
Culture, Arts & Civic Engagement
- The Arts: Creative workshops with the London Symphonic Orchestra, artist-in- residence printmaking and portrait drawing, art gallery visit at the Manchester Art gallery, Poetry Live at Salford Bridgewater Hall, and theatrical excursions to Manchester and the Grand Theatre.
- Active Citizenship: Regular community care home visits, Eco Council and Climate Action initiatives.
- Character & Wellbeing: Outdoor experiences via John Muir residentials, alongside St John Ambulance first aid training and youth mental health workshops.