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Form Time

Building Bold Outlooks Every Day

At Bolder Academy, Form Time is a cornerstone of our Bolder Outlook programme and plays a vital role in shaping students into confident, compassionate, and capable young people. Taking place for 30 minutes each morning, Form Time offers a structured, supportive start to the day that goes far beyond routine. It provides students with daily opportunities to connect, reflect, and grow—personally, socially, and academically.

Each week, all students take part in two key communal experiences that strengthen school culture and promote personal growth:

Assembly: Held once a week, assemblies bring the entire year group together to explore important themes, celebrate student achievements, and foster a shared sense of community. Assemblies often highlight Bolder’s core values and encourage students to reflect on how these values shape their actions both within and beyond the school.
Notices & Reflections: In this weekly session, tutor groups receive year-group-specific updates and key information relevant to their journey at Bolder. It's also a time to celebrate individual and collective successes—recognising achievements, contributions, and progress. Each session includes a brief reflection activity linked to the theme of the previous week's assembly, prompting students to think critically, engage in discussion, and connect big ideas to their own lives.

For students in Key Stages 3 and 4, the rest of the Form Time programme includes the following structured components:

Critical Thinking: Using articles from The Day, students explore current affairs and global issues, developing the ability to analyse different perspectives, question assumptions, and evaluate evidence. These sessions support thoughtful discussion and foster independent thinking, preparing students to navigate the complexities of the modern world with confidence.
Guided Reading: Once a week, students read together with their form tutor, engaging with age-appropriate, ambitious texts. These shared reading experiences build vocabulary, comprehension and critical engagement with key themes—deepening literacy skills and inspiring a lifelong love of reading.
Learning Habits: Focused on developing positive learning behaviours such as organisation, self-regulation, focus, and reflection, these sessions help students cultivate the habits needed for academic success and long-term personal growth.
Citizenship: Once a week, students explore essential topics such as politics, democracy, law, and their rights and responsibilities as citizens. These sessions empower students with the knowledge and skills to become informed, active participants in their communities and society at large.

In the Sixth Form, Form Time is tailored to meet the evolving needs of older students as they take greater responsibility for their futures. The programme includes:

Literacy & Oracy: Students continue to develop high-level reading, writing, and speaking skills needed for success at A-level and beyond. Sessions focus on clarity of expression, academic language, and critical debate—preparing students for university, apprenticeships, or professional life.
Academic Monitoring: Tutors work closely with students to track progress, offer personalised support, and set meaningful academic goals. These sessions help students stay focused and ensure that any challenges are addressed proactively.
Careers: Weekly careers education supports students in making informed decisions about their future. Students explore post-18 pathways, receive guidance on UCAS and apprenticeships, and build employability skills that will serve them long after leaving Bolder Academy.
Bolder Futures: These sessions focus on equipping students with the practical tools needed for life beyond school. Activities include learning to touch type, mastering effective revision strategies, and completing online modules on essential life skills—such as study techniques and understanding mortgages. These sessions are designed to help students build confidence, independence, and real-world readiness for the next stage of their journey.

At Bolder Academy, Form Time is not simply a daily routine—it is a dynamic and meaningful part of our commitment to holistic education. Through a rich blend of discussion, reflection, learning, and community-building, students develop the character, confidence and clarity of purpose that define a true Bold Outlook.