Careers Spotlight: Learning About Youth Work with No Limits KS4

As part of our PSHE and careers learning, students recently took part in a session led by No Limits, a local organisation that supports young people across our community. The session helped students understand both the role of youth workers and the real-life challenges young people may face, while also highlighting youth work as a possible career pathway.

Real Stories: Becoming a Youth Worker

The session began with Gerson and Emma sharing their personal journeys into youth work. Students heard about:

• What inspired them to work with young people

• The skills and qualities needed for the role

• How youth work can make a positive difference in young people’s lives

This helped students see youth work as a real, achievable career, rooted in empathy, communication, and community support.

What is No Limits?

Students explored who No Limits are and the services they offer to young people. This included viewing an animated video explaining:

• How young people can access support

• The different services available

• How No Limits works alongside schools and communities

Students were also guided through the No Limits website to better understand how young people can seek help when they need it.

Understanding the Role of a Youth Worker

Students learned that youth workers:

• Listen, rather than lecture

• Help young people think through their choices

• Share clear, honest, age-appropriate information

• Support young people to stay safe

• Take action if someone is at risk (safeguarding)

A key message throughout the session was that the focus of youth work is support, not punishment, helping young people feel heard and empowered to make safer choices.

What is Detached Youth Work?

The session introduced students to detached youth work, which involves youth workers meeting young people in their own communities, such as parks or local spaces, rather than expecting them to attend a building-based service.

Students discussed why this approach can be effective and how it helps reach young people who may not otherwise seek support.

Exploring Risks Young People May Face

Through discussion, students identified challenges young people can experience in the community, including:

• Drugs and understanding their consequences

• Personal safety and environmental risks (such as poor street lighting)

• Peer pressure

• Mental health challenges

• Difficulties finding employment

• Money and financial pressures

These conversations helped students reflect on risk, safety, and support, and understand where trusted adults and services can help.

Creative Activity: Designing the Perfect Youth Service

To finish the session, students took part in a creative activity where they designed their ideal youth service. This encouraged them to think about:

• What young people need to feel safe and supported

• What services would be helpful

• How youth workers could best engage with young people

This activity developed teamwork, creativity, and problem-solving skills while reinforcing learning from the session.

Why This Matters

Sessions like this support students’:

• PSHE learning around health, wellbeing, and safety

• Careers education by showcasing real-world roles

• Understanding of support services available to them

• Confidence to seek help when needed

We are grateful to No Limits for providing such an engaging and informative session and for helping students understand both the support available to them and the people who work to keep young people safe.

GCSE PE- Practical Lessons

 

Our Year 11 boys are working very hard through this second term. In our practical PE lessons we have been implementing the topics of the coursework and created a circuit based on Muscular Endurance and Coordination.

These two topics will have the boys using and improving their motor skills, improving their muscualr fatigue and testing their mental strength. Here we have class 4PR and 4NT showcasing their skills.

P.E at the Polygon School-Basketball Set Shot

 Learning The Set Shot

Here at Polygon School the pupils are learning how to perform the "Set Shot" in basketball. Our year 7's are currently understanding the importance of taking turns and using hand eye co-ordination to shoot at the basket. 

We, the P.E. department, focus on instructing the pupils so that they are mentally and physically prepared to take the next steps.

Hooked on Nature: 3DRB’s Blue Influencer Journey

                                       

     From Classroom to Riverbank: 3DRB Making a Difference

We were delighted to welcome Amy from the Wessex Rivers Trust back to school once again, giving a brand-new group of pupils the opportunity to take part in this fantastic environmental project and benefit from all the expertise and enthusiasm Amy brings.

This time, it was class 3DRB who were selected to take part. As with previous groups, Amy began by visiting the school to introduce the project, explore the pupils’ existing knowledge and experiences of rivers, and share some key river education. The pupils then worked together to brainstorm ideas and decide which direction they wanted their project to FLOW.

Over the next two sessions, we visited Tanners Brook, where pupils got stuck in with river cleaning activities. This included litter picking, treasure hunting using magnets, and river dipping to discover what life could be found beneath the water’s surface. These hands-on experiences were a real highlight and sparked lots of curiosity and excitement.

                                                

The following two sessions took place back at school. First, pupils worked in the classroom to identify the underwater life they had discovered at Tanners Brook. This was followed by a litter pick around the school site, helping to ensure that The Polygon School was looking its very best.

                                                  

One of the ideas the pupils were particularly keen to explore was fishing as a class. So we headed off to Orchard Lakes in the New Forest, where we were warmly welcomed by Dave, our fishing instructor. He provided each pupil with a whip rod and maggots as bait, and soon a friendly competition began to see who could catch the biggest fish! The session was a great success, with around five fish caught, including Perch, Roach and Trout. It was a brilliant introduction to the world of angling and a memorable experience for everyone involved.

For the final two sessions, we returned to Tanners Brook to carry out river water testing before heading upstream to visit the berm built by a previous class. Pupils carried out some maintenance work, including coppicing, and were very impressed to see how well established the berm had become and how naturally it now fits into the environment.

As this project comes to a close, 3DRB have gained a wealth of environmental knowledge, had lots of fun, and made a real and lasting difference to their local environment.

We would like to say a huge thank you to Amy for all her support, guidance and knowledge throughout the project — her passion and commitment make these experiences so valuable for our pupils.

We are already preparing for our next group of young river dippers, so watch this space to see what exciting project we get up to next!

No Limits KS4 Session 2

This week, students took part in their second workshop delivered by No Limits. 

The session supports the PSHE curriculum (2026), particularly the Health and Wellbeing and Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) strands, with a focus on drugs, alcohol, vaping, and risk-taking behaviours.

The workshop focused on harm reduction, enabling students to develop the knowledge and skills needed to make safe, informed, and responsible choices.

PSHE curriculum links:

Health and Wellbeing

• Understanding how substance use can affect physical and mental health

• Recognising how risk increases with quantity and mixing of substances

• Identifying short- and long-term health risks associated with drugs, alcohol, nicotine, and vaping

• Developing strategies to reduce harm and prioritise personal safety and wellbeing

Living in the Wider World

• Evaluating risk and understanding consequences of choices

• Building decision-making skills in real-life scenarios

Learning activities included:

Activity: Mixing Substances – Risk Ladder (Low to High Risk)
Students explored how different substances present varying levels of risk, including:

• Nicotine pouches

• Caffeine

• Alcohol

• Vaping

• Prescribed substances

• Unknown substances

Key learning points reinforced that:

• Risk increases with the amount used

• Risk increases when substances are mixed

• Unknown substances carry significantly higher risk

Steroids and Needle Use (Health Education)

• Understanding the impact of steroids on hormones and muscle development

• Awareness of long-term risks such as heart disease, liver damage, hormonal imbalance (e.g. acne, swelling), canver and mood changes (including ‘roid rage’)

• Understanding risks linked to needle use, including infection, HIV, hepatitis, and scarring

This session supports students in developing health literacy, risk awareness, and protective behaviours, as outlined in the PSHE curriculum (2026).

                                                                   

Any questions please call Mrs Foster or use information above to contact No Limits. 

 Football Tournament at Samuel Cody School, Farnborough, 26th January 2026

Polygon School took a KS3 and a KS4 Team to the tournament to play a range of teams from schools in and around the Farnborough area.

Both teams did exceptionally well in some very cold and tricky conditions, returning it in time for the end of the day

Well Done To All Boys Involved!

Polygon Patch winter update!

 A new Polytunnel has been purchased for the Allotment! This will provide an additional learning space that can be accessed by all pupils and staff. 

Engagement Pathways pupils and staff have began work to take down the old Polytunnel, and clear the space ready for construction when the weather improves.

Keep an eye out for more updates on the progress!