Extra-Curricular Activities 2016 – 2017
WELCOME
At Tudor Hall we champion the varied interests and talents of all the members of our community. Our pupils are individuals and we endeavour to ensure that, as they go through school, we retain their unique characteristics whilst we work to develop increased resilience, tenacity and true sense of self. Boarding provides the opportunity for the all-round education that allows girls to truly flourish. We know that the opportunities offered through the extra-curriculum are, in most cases, more important in helping the girls develop as people than what happens in the classroom. We have established a programme of activities during the week which is complemented by the activities that occur at weekends. The extended school day and boarding life provide time for girls to take part in activities that will enrich their school experience. The diverse range of opportunities allows them to work as members of a team, to lead others, to develop specific skills and to increase in confidence. There is truly something for everyone. All girls are involved in the extra-curricular programme and their commitment is monitored by the pastoral team to ensure a good balance between academic work and their other interests. Increasingly, we hear from employers that, although they expect excellent academic results, these alone do not allow our young people to stand out from the crowd. However, interests sustained and developed through school and beyond provide evidence of the transferable skills and the individuality that will get them noticed.
Wendy Griffiths
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CONTENTS
CASE STUDIES
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ACADEMIC 10-17 ART 18-22 COOKERY 23-24 DANCE 25 DRAMA 26-28 MUSIC 29-31 SPORTS & GAMES
32-40
CLUBS & ACTIVITIES
41-42
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LIAN DANCER – TODD
Aim Higher Club
Hi, my name is Lian and I am in Todds House. There is a wide range of Extra Curricular activities here at Tudor that are enjoyed by many of us throughout the week, some people do more than others; I personally do 14 different activities a week so I keep really busy. The 14 activities I do are: High Jump, Horse Riding, Early Morning Swimming twice a week, Todd Dance, Chamber Choir twice a week, Orchestra, String Group, Music Theory, Ceramics, Todd Choir, Todd Drama, Rounders, Aim Higher and Athletics. All of these activities are extremely enjoyable and if I had to choose my favourite I don’t know what I would say. I like the variety of sports clubs and music. Also Aim Higher is really interesting as it makes me think about academic things in a different way. It is great that I can do so many clubs with my friends.
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Orchestral Course
MIMI NEWSOME – IIs
Tennis Lesson
Hi, My name is Mimi. I am in the IIs. For me as a sport scholar, most of my extracurricular is sport. I do swimming twice a week in the morning before school and also most afternoons during tea. I play a lot of tennis, a lesson with my doubles partner, one with the rest of the squad and also practices twice a week with the rest of my year group. I also play a lot of hockey; team practices twice a week and Banbury hockey once a week. In the summer term I also do athletics. I also play netball and rounders. However, I also do saxophone lessons, sax group and piano lessons both of which I take exams. My favourite club is hockey. Extra-curricular is not just about sport and music; we are really lucky at Tudor to be able to also do cookery, choir and a number of dance and art clubs and also drama including LAMDA exams.
Swimming
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MOLLY LEVENE – IIIs
MUN
Hi, my name is Molly and I am in the IIIs. I do a wide range of extra-curricular at Tudor, and try to fill up as much of my time as I can. The clubs I belong to include: hockey (including Banbury hockey), tennis, lacrosse, x-country (including Banbury Harriers), netball, athletics, speech and drama, and MUN. I think it is really great that we have the opportunity to try so many different activities and clubs. One of my favourite activities is Model United Nations (MUN). This is where you are given a country, and have to debate real issues, such as women’s rights, as your country. I love how it gives you the opportunity to explore other countries’ views on modern problems. I also really love sport. The PE extracurricular at Tudor is really good, as it gives you the chance to try a lot of different things, even if you don’t want to be in the teams. I do Banbury hockey which takes place at a nearby hockey pitch. The school mini bus takes us there straight from school. It is great as it gives you the opportunity to meet people from other schools during a school club. Although doing a lot of extra-curricular is quite tiring, it is also really fun and means you are never bored.
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I am a boarder in the IVs and this is my second year at Tudor. Throughout my time at the school I have been able to take part in numerous extra-curricular activities, including netball, swimming, horse riding and Spanish. I learned to ride in Trinidad before I moved to the UK to come to Tudor – I have always enjoyed it. Now I ride every Tuesday with a group of other girls so it is a great way to make friends. There is a wide range of ponies and horses at the stables we go to but I usually ride a pony called Arnie. During the lessons we tend to do a lot of dressage and jumping inside but in the summer term we also go on hacks. It’s great fun.
ELLA TAYLOR-CROSS – IVs
Duke of Edinburgh’s Award
I love swimming. The pool is open almost every tea time and there are often swimming galas against other schools which I enjoy. We also have inter-house swimming galas which are very competitive but great fun. Another sport I am keen on is netball and I try to attend the practices at least once a week. Despite not being the sportiest of people, netball has given me the opportunity to represent Tudor at a team sport which is very rewarding and something I never thought I would be able to do. Away from sports, I am taking extra Spanish oral lessons. There is a small group of us that goes each week to practise our pronunciation and vocabulary. These lessons also go towards my new skill as part of my Duke of Edinburgh’s award. I am now starting my silver Duke of Edinburgh and last year I was able to complete my bronze. For my bronze we successfully climbed up Mount Snowdon for a Breast Cancer charity as part of our volunteering and this year I am hoping to help out at school for my silver. As well as volunteering and completing a physical and a skill we also have to complete an expedition which involves walking and camping. It is an exciting challenge and hugely rewarding.
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TILLY JAMES – Vs
Drama
The extra-curricular programme at Tudor gives every girl an opportunity to develop and explore skills they never knew they had before, along with making friendships that will survive anything, whether it’s pre-season training for the sportier ones amongst us, or the gruelling but highly rewarding D of E program. Tudor has offered me every opportunity possible since I joined in the IIIs, and despite the fact that I had come into an environment where friendships and teams had already been established for years, there has never come a time when I felt even remotely disadvantaged or excluded by girls or staff. Acting, performing and all things dramatic are my main passion. I am currently studying for my GCSE drama, and have just completed the last of my coursework pieces, Medea by Euripides, which was both challenging and thought-provoking and, with the help of the teachers and their meticulous direction, has been my favourite performance to date. The drama department at Tudor offers a number of extra-curricular opportunities such as countless theatre trips, well-made players, dramabites and both the junior and senior productions where any girl can audition for roles and showcase her talent. Tudor also offers a wide range of sport, from swimming to skiing, and everything in between. With a huge choice of extra-curricular sports clubs constantly on offer, such as hockey, netball, swimming and tennis, every girl can attend practices to relieve stress, get some air and improve her skills. Personally, I love hockey, as I play goalkeeper which gives me an opportunity to develop my confidence and drive, as well as giving me a rush of adrenalin from the constant excitement of protecting your goal. Along with sport, Tudor constantly has drop-in clubs to help anyone struggling with the academic side of school, and the teachers are always available for help from 4 till 5, as well as drop-ins to the houses to offer some extra tuition. The extra-curricular at Tudor offers everybody a bit of something; whether you are sporty, dramatic or interested in how things work, there is always something to get involved with.
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ROSIE DUNBAR – LVI
Music Concert
Since I arrived in Todd, Tudor has encouraged me to get involved with as many different activities as possible. The encouragement and support I have received from everyone has allowed me to experience every aspect of Tudor’s extra-curricular programme. When I first started at Tudor, I was able to continue working towards my Karate Black Belt, which I achieved in 2012. I have always loved my sport and have been keen to represent the school in matches, particularly hockey and tennis. Being a sports scholar brought its own responsibility to my commitments and now in Sixth Form I look forward to the challenge of being the School Sports Captain for the term. I have just completed my canoeing Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s expedition, where we battled the River Severn through wind, rain and snow. Despite the temperature dropping to -3 degrees we all passed and I am now working on completing the volunteering, skill, residential and sport aspects to the award. Music is also a big part of my life at Tudor, having been involved in junior, senior and Chamber choir, Orchestra, Brass Group, Band and various vocal groups throughout the years. Balancing time between both music and sport was difficult at times but my mentors for both the music and sport scholarship programmes helped massively. I have been fortunate enough to be selected for various overseas trips organized by Tudor. In the IIIs I was selected to be part of a small group to go on our Canadian Exchange programme with Branksome Hall. I was in Canada for roughly a month in the Spring Term, and then for half of the summer term my exchange came over to experience Tudor life. It was such an amazing adventure and my exchange and I remain good friends. More recently, I travelled up to Manchester with the Tudor In Four Continents trip to Bolton to help out at Bolton Lads and Girls Club, an organisation devoted to improving the lives of the young people living in Bolton. We looked after children aged 8–18 years and it was a hugely rewarding experience. My most recent adventure, and possibly the most thrilling and challenging yet, was embarking on the Warriors Accelerated Scholarship Programme. The activities in South Africa included skydiving, swinging from bridges, and abseiling down waterfalls, as well as visiting an orphanage. It was a week of exhilaration where we pushed ourselves to our maximum with a strong focus on improving our self-confidence and the ability to tackle the challenges life throws at you with an open mind. 9
ACADEMIC 10
Animal Encounters
The Aim Higher programme affords the girls a range of academic opportunities beyond the classroom, allowing them to pursue their intellectual curiosity and to engage in subject areas of particular interest to them. The programme is inclusive, so all girls can benefit, should they wish to be involved. Activities are varied: from entry to national competitions, independent project work, attending lectures as well as taking part in the many extra-curricular clubs on offer. All girls in Todd, IIs and IIIs will take part in an independent learning project which involves reading three books, completing a piece of creative writing, taking part in community service in the school or wider community, as well as writing a project on a topic they have researched. The project requires the girls to choose a topic to research from an extensive list. Examples of topics include: ‘How do nanoparticles in socks stop them smelling?’, ‘The London 2012 Olympic games: was it a positive or negative event for our country?’ and ‘Read a poem. Create a poster which includes the poem, annotations, influences etc’.
ACADEMIC
Aim Higher
Aim Higher sessions take place every Friday for academic scholars and any other girls who are interested. Sessions involve discussion on topical issues, critical thinking, and lectures from teachers. Recent sessions have included a lecture on ‘The Milestones of Human Genetics’ and a team activity to ‘Solve the Prisoner Hat Riddle’. Girls will also have the opportunity to enrol with IGGY (International Gateway for Gifted Youth Education), the University of Warwick’s online learning platform – www.iggy.net. It encourages critical thinking and collaborative work, and involves students from across the world.
Animal Encounters Club This is an exciting, hands-on, interactive animal handling session run during the second half of the Autumn term. A mother and daughter team, Jeanette and Tegan, bring in a different selection of their animals each week, ranging from mammals, snakes and lizards to invertebrates. Being a former teacher, Jeanette is able to show the students how to care for the different animals and handle them confidently. She also shares interesting facts and knowledge about the animals such as how lizards use Van der Waals forces between their feet and a surface in order to hold on, and how this is now being replicated in research so people could potentially scale buildings. The club is open to all ages and to anyone who has an interest in animals.
BA Flag Award (Spanish, French and German) The British Airways Flag clubs prepare girls for the BA Flag Award with the aim of promoting language for use in practical situations. Currently, it is offered to students of French, German and Spanish from the IVs upwards. At weekly sessions, students learn how to manage customer service situations such as being an air hostess, working at the tourist office or in the theatre, and manage customer queries in the target language. At the end of the course, they take a test and receive a certificate and badge from British Airways. It is a good programme for developing oral and listening skills and to show future employers or universities commitment to language learning.
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ACADEMIC
Animal Encounters
Classics Club This club is for those intrigued by the ancient world – they can find out about the myths and the gods, what the Romans ate, the exploits of the different emperors and how people lived in Greece and Rome, through various different activities.
Dissection Club This is an exciting, sometimes gory and always engaging club, open to all years. We look at organs and entire organisms. So far we have dissected rats, hearts, squid, eyes and brains. This club is great for expanding the knowledge of the budding scientist!
Doughnut Discussion This is a weekly event in which all A Level Biologists get together and discuss something of a biological nature. It is sometimes a presentation put forward by a girl, sometimes a selection of video clips or it can be something entirely different. Every week a selection of treats is made available, usually featuring chocolate mini-rolls!
English Clubs English at Tudor is a dynamic subject with a real buzz about it. Our theatre trips are inclusive, allowing students from all years with a declared interest in the subject to attend and to discuss literature and ideas. A good range of clubs and activities are offered, again allowing students from all years to mix and discuss their ideas, whether they are exploring Romanticism or Modernism for the first time in our weekly lunchtime club, or whether they are relaxing with a mocktail and reading Ian Fleming or “Hamlet” at one of the special events we run during the evening. 12
ACADEMIC
Junior Mathletes
Fun French Our French Assistant runs this club. Students are encouraged to speak French as much as possible during the session while playing French games. Tea is offered to the students during each session.
German and Spanish Socials Sixth Form linguists team up with their counterparts at boys’ schools to practise their linguistic skills and learn about the culture. Recent events have included Spanish discussions followed by a salsa lesson and speed dating in French, German and Spanish Socials.
German Club Students learn about the culture of the German-speaking countries through activities like cookery, crafts and cultural research.
Greek Club This club gives girls the opportunity to explore more of the ancient world by learning Classical Greek. No prior knowledge is necessary, and girls can practise their linguistic skills and learn more about Classical Greece as they learn the language.
Junior Mathletes A fun and informal way of tackling Maths questions. This club is open to all girls in Todd to IIIs. We look beyond the curriculum and do activities like maths treasure hunts. We also enter competitions as a team, such as the National Cipher Challenge at Southampton and UKMT Team Maths Challenge.
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ACADEMIC
Junior Science
Junior Science Junior Science is all based around fun and often very messy scientific activities. The year started with a Biological Scavenger Hunt with prizes, followed by a range of other activities including flying eggs, making 3-D glasses, bath bombs, alien blood, fizz pop rockets and monster bubbles.
Language Leaders This weekly club is open to girls in the UVI who study languages. The aim is to help students develop leadership and team-work skills. During the first term, students learn to teach language lessons and practise delivering lessons to each other. They also carry out a small research project in the target language culture and present it to the group. In the second term, in small groups, they lead a languages event such as a cookery session and teach a lesson at Tudor and at a local primary school. Throughout the course, they complete a log book of their experience and receive a certificate at the end. Many students refer to the award on their UCAS forms.
* Mandarin Mandarin is a private lesson, which girls can choose. The teacher comes from the organisation ‘Dragons in Europe’. Girls work towards an appropriate qualification. Recently, students have worked at Common Entrance level and Asset Languages Breakthrough level.
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ACADEMIC
MUN
MUN In Model United Nations, girls represent different countries from UN member states to debate current issues on the organisation’s vast agenda. Girls research global problems to be addressed, drawn from current events. MUN participants learn how the international community acts on its concerns about topics including peace and security, human rights, the environment, food and hunger, economic development, and globalisation. During MUN, participants must employ a variety of communication and critical thinking skills in order to represent their countries. MUN teaches girls skills such as public speaking, small group communication, research, active listening, negotiating, conflict resolution, note taking, and technical writing. Moreover, MUN is great fun for those involved: they work with and compete against boys, and occasionally declare war. Over the year, girls attend MUN conferences at different schools across the country and often make friends with other MUN delegates from other schools who regularly attend the same conferences.
Oxbridge Our programme extends into the GCSE years, where interested students meet regularly to sharpen their skills of logical and lateral thought. Recent topics have included: ‘What would happen if, overnight, cars were able to run on water?’ and ‘How should Apple spend its billions?’ In addition to the school’s lecture programme, these students are also invited to hear additional visiting speakers, such as the recent talk on life in Burma. Furthermore, they experience additional cultural and intellectual events, such as theatrical performances, film screenings and external lectures. We run bespoke events in Oxford to inspire and inform. One recent event saw our students spending a day at Trinity, Lincoln and Merton colleges and enjoying the magnificent buildings, not least Merton’s medieval Upper Library. 15
ACADEMIC
We host events for other schools, including workshops on interview technique and general access events, delivered by the University of Oxford. In the Lower Sixth, applicants also attend weekly Critical Thinking classes, and every aspect of their Oxbridge application is scrutinised and supported.
Science Week
Philosophy Club Philosophy Club is the place to come and discuss big ideas! We talk about current affairs, famous philosophers and key moral issues. Some examples of topics we have discussed this term include the ethics of eating meat, should free speech be limited, and the death penalty.
Physics with Tea A Level physics students chat about science in the news, solve thinking problems and eat cake! This is a chance to wind down and explore what you are interested in.
Senior Mathletes Come and solve some tricky problems and enjoy both the satisfaction of rising to the challenge and the taste of some delicious cookies! The problems will often involve applying and extending the algebra skills learned in the classroom, and will significantly improve your IGCSE mathematical skills.
Spanish Film Club This club runs one Friday evening each half-term in Inglis and is open to Vs and Sixth Formers. A range of contemporary Spanish or Latin American films is shown, in a range of genres. Chocolate or popcorn is also on offer! 16
The Club meets once a week and is tailored to suit the girls who attend. It aims to extend their Spanish beyond the curriculum and introduces them to aspects of Spanish culture that they would like to find out more about. This year, for example, we have studied some Spanish poetry and looked at lots of tricky grammar points in order to learn about the subtleties of the language. It is ideal for those who want to really push themselves in this exciting language.
Spanish (IIIs’ Conversation Club) Using songs, role play, games and real life scenarios, this lively club will equip you with the basics to communicate in Spanish and to use language in a variety of social and holiday situations. The emphasis is on speaking and listening. Prior knowledge is advisable but not essential; just bring your good humour along.
ACADEMIC
Spanish G&T Club
Spanish (Sixth Form Oral Clubs) UVI Spanish Oral Club With an emphasis on oral exam practice and lots of fun, we cover topics like the environment, the impact of technology in the home and workplace, or we discuss ethical issues linked to scientific progress. LVI Spanish Oral Club In a relaxed atmosphere and with an emphasis on fun and learning, we explore how to develop strategies which will enable students to tackle the hottest topical news such as fashion, TV viewing habits and preferences, the cinema, family relationships and partnerships amongst others.
Language Leaders
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ART 18
Art Club
Etching workshop Once a week during the Autumn and Spring terms, the Sixth Form have the opportunity to learn the process of zinc plate etching with Mrs Craske. The Fine Art group have used the opportunity to create extension work related to their figurative work based on Japonism and Orientalism, creating very decorative prints with a combination of techniques such as soft and hard grounds to apply textures to the zinc plates as well as the traditional dry point drawing technique. The club is open to all Sixth Form, regardless of whether they are studying Fine Art.
ART
Art
General Art Club This club is open to Todd to IIIs. Girls can do various activities relating to the arts in general. It is a great way of extending their interest in the arts and gives them the opportunity to do independent research and learn new skills.
Figure Drawing The LVI and UVI Textile and Fine Art girls create figure drawings with Mrs Craske in the Autumn and Spring terms. Girls from the Sixth Form have been sitting for the group to raise money for various ventures.
Art detectives Art detectives – girls have the opportunity to learn about art and architecture in a fun and exciting way. We look at pictures, step through time and explore the lives of the Old Masters, play art-related games, as well as creating miniature models of famous buildings.
Etching Workshop
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ART 20
Photography
ART
Ceramics
Ceramics Ceramics club is aimed at laying the technical foundations of using clay. Members are challenged with different hand-building techniques and are introduced to various methods of using moulds. They are shown a wide range of decorating styles and techniques which they can explore further. Once they have mastered the basics of clay work, pupils are encouraged to design their own work and experiment with the materials, working towards a self-determined goal.
Design and Technology Senior Tech Club GCSE and A Level students have the opportunity to carry out extra work on their examination projects and to experiment with new processes and manufacturing techniques, such as laminating veneers, steam bending and wood turning products. Junior Tech Club This club is open to girls in Todd to IIIs. Projects have included making sets of tiled coasters, storage boxes, creating wooden corkboards and crafting acrylic Christmas decorations. There is the opportunity for girls to catch up with any practical work that they have missed in lessons and to experience new techniques and crafting skills.
Photography Photography club is a relaxed way to become comfortable with handling a digital SLR camera. Members are encouraged to develop their own curiosity by trying to emulate professional photography. Small tasks are set to get the girls used to the principles of photography and a range of key camera accessories. They will also be exposed to digital manipulation through Photoshop but still with an emphasis on in-camera effects. The photography department has a number of SLRs which can be used by the girls attending each week. As the year progresses, the more serious photographers will be introduced to specific areas of photography, such as close-ups or lighting.
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ART 22
Upcycle club This club is designed for girls in Todd to IIIs. You can bring your old, worn clothes or fabric to turn them into something new, or ‘upcycled’ . If it’s a new pencil case or scarf that you want, then all you need is some added enthusiasm as we have lots of fabric scraps in the Textiles department. Whether you just want to brush up on some sewing skills or alter a dress to suit a new season, then come along!
Textiles
COOKERY
Cookery Club
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COOKERY
Cook Your Own Supper/Lunch
Cook Your Own Supper/Lunch Girls in the IVs, Vs and LVI create and eat their own lunch or supper. They discover quick, colourful, inspiring recipe ideas using fresh and seasonal ingredients. The lessons are relaxed and fun and the girls learn how to understand about the creativity and enjoyment of food.
Cookery Club (Todd and IIs) Students cook sweet and savoury dishes on alternate weeks, wash up after themselves and eat the fruits of their labour. Examples of dishes prepared and cooked are sausage rolls, Croque-Monsieur, flap jack, sweet and savoury muffins.
MFL Cookery and Culture The club is a great opportunity for girls from Todd to IIIs to learn more about the culture of the countries in which the languages we teach at Tudor are spoken. They work and cook in mixed age groups which allow them to get to know girls from different classes and ages in a fun and educational environment. They have had great fun cooking Spanish tortilla, French crĂŞpes and German Christmas biscuits, as well as doing treasure hunts and reading fairy tales.
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DANCE
Summer Show
*Ballet Gabrielle Butler ARAD, LRAD, AISD, is a Royal Academy of Dance trained and fullyregistered teacher specialising in dance. Classes follow the RAD syllabus as well as non-syllabus material. Sessions are inspiring, exciting and challenging, and all groups learn choreography to be performed at school events. Pointe work is also offered to students who are considered physically ready. Groups are mostly organised according to year groups but also in relation to students’ ability. These classes are not suitable for absolute beginners and pupils must therefore have some knowledge of the basic ballet movements. Pupils working towards higher grades in ballet have the opportunity to train outside school with Mrs Butler at her ballet school in Brackley.
Group Dance (by years) Girls in Todd to IVs may attend group dance sessions every week. Movements and sequences are devised using various styles of dance: street, hip hop, contemporary, jazz and ballet. These group pieces are then performed in dance shows which take place at the end of the Autumn and Summer terms.
Reaction Entry to this group is by either invitation or audition. Girls from all years are accepted. Weekly sessions of choreography take place which result in two final pieces being created for end of term performances in the Autumn and Summer terms.
*Tap Incorporating the ISTD Tap Syllabus, this class, run by Sarah Hammond, teaches students the basic and intermediate tap steps, without the stress and worry of an exam-structured environment. Classes are open to all students of any ability who share with us the joy of tap. Each term new steps and routines are learnt, culminating in a performance on Summer Show Day. A fun and enjoyable, lifelong skill!
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DRAMA
Audition Support and Coaching for Drama Schools Coaching sessions are available to girls who wish to audition for drama school or pursue their passion for drama beyond Tudor. Staff are able to provide advice regarding suitable courses and aid girls in their choice of audition material. Girls meet regularly to rehearse and gain valuable interview practice.
DramaBites These are informal drama presentations to an audience of girls, staff and parents. The aim of DramaBites is to provide girls with the opportunity to show some of the work they have been doing in drama lessons, but also to present work in progress, or ideas that they might like to try out. Part of each DramaBites session is given over to improvisation games, which often include audience participation.
Junior Production The Junior Production is performed in the Summer Term and comprises a cast of girls from Todd, IIs and IIIs. Recent productions have included: ‘Peter Pan’ and ‘The Golden Ticket’, an adaptation of Dahl’s ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’, ‘The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe’, ‘Bugsy Malone’ and an outdoor production of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’.
The Well-Made Players The Well-Made Players comprises girls across all year groups who have demonstrated a particular talent in drama. Many of those involved are, indeed, drama scholars. However, there is an audition process after each project to allow a continuous influx of new talent from Tudor. Girls enjoy drama workshops to further develop their skills in drama, as well as visits to the theatre and opportunities for further performance.
Blue Stockings – Senior School Play
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DRAMA
Bugsy Malone – Junior Production
National Youth Theatre Sessions are available for any girl who wishes to audition for the National Youth Theatre. Half hour weekly sessions can be arranged via the staff in the drama department.
School Musical A biennial event that is open to all year groups. The musical exhibits performing arts at their best, combining drama with music and dance. Boys from local schools have often joined the girls at Tudor as part of the cast. Recent musicals have included: ‘Cabaret’, ‘A Christmas Carol’ and ‘Grease’.
Senior School Play This is also a biennial event that is open to girls in the IVs, Vs and Sixth Form. The senior school play is performed in the Autumn Term, and often involves boys from local schools. Recent productions have included: ‘Lady Windermere’s Fan’, ‘Romeo and Juliet’ and ‘Blue Stockings’.
Senior Drama Society The Senior Drama Society comprises a series of ad hoc events for girls in the IVs to Sixth Form who have displayed considerable flair in drama. Many of the girls involved are drama scholars, though any girl with a passion for the theatre is strongly encouraged to come along. Girls have the opportunity to participate in workshops, often run by industry professionals, enjoy visits to the theatre, and direct their peers and other students in the school.
Shakespeare Schools’ Festival Tudor girls regularly participate in this excellent festival, which gives girls the opportunity to work alongside other schools, workshop with staff from the Central School of Speech
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DRAMA
and Drama, and perform at a professional theatre.
*Speech and Drama Girls have the opportunity to take the LAMDA examinations in solo, duologue or group acting as well as mime, verse and prose, and public speaking, which is an essential skill when preparing for interviews. All examinations are optional and many pupils prefer to take a group examination when first starting lessons. Groups typically involve between 2 and 6 girls. The classes give the girls confidence when speaking or performing in front of an audience, as well as the enjoyment of learning how to work as part of a team. Classes provide excellent preparation for GCSE Drama and A Level Theatre Studies and Drama.
Todd Drama Club Todd Drama Club runs throughout the year and is aimed at developing the confidence of those new to the school. Those involved are responsible for suggesting and rehearsing their own material, and then work towards a performance. The club is often run by a member of the Sixth Form or drama scholars.
Tudor Techies This is a branch of the Well-Made Players but focuses on technical and design areas in the theatre rather than performance. The group work towards technical support for the department’s productions, and also provide technical support, for example, lighting, for other school events. The group is student-led. Shakespeare Schools’ Festival
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MUSIC
Summer Show
Brass Group Brass Group is open to all girls playing any brass instrument. They have the opportunity to play many styles of ensemble music in many of our concerts, including the Carol Service and termly concerts.
Chamber Choir The Chamber Choir is an auditioned choir for up to 18 voices. The repertoire is extremely varied and often challenging, and the singers are expected to be good sight-readers. There is much opportunity for performance in and out and out of school, at venues such as the Royal Albert Hall, for example.
Flute Ensemble (Intermediate) The group is open to flautists of approximately Grade 2–4 standard. It is an opportunity to play duets, trios and quartets in lots of different styles with other flute players.
Junior Choir This choir is for the younger years. It offers everyone the chance to sing repertoire that they enjoy with their friends. We sing many styles of music, including pop, jazz, musicals and classical songs. It also gives the girls an opportunity to sing in the Christmas Carol Service in Banbury as well as in our main concerts. There is no audition; we just want the girls to enjoy singing.
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MUSIC
Orchestra The orchestra is for girls in any year. It encourages girls to gain experience working in a large ensemble, as well as developing their own skills on their instrument. They will have many performing opportunities and take part in an important ensemble as well as getting to know girls in other years.
School Band The School Band meets once a week to play original songs and cover versions. The band plays in a variety of styles, mainly consisting of rock, pop and folk, and includes guitar, bass, piano and drums as well as vocalists. There is no required level of musicianship, but a basic understanding of music and an enthusiasm for rock and pop is preferred.
Senior Choir The Senior Choir is for girls in the IVs to UVI, and we cover a range of styles and genres from modern day pop songs to the more traditional jazz, classic song and church repertoire. There is no audition, only a love of singing is required, and there are lots of opportunities to perform in concerts and services.
Senior School Band The Sixth Form Band gets together every week to rehearse. The group plays covers and originals with a strong emphasis on vocal harmony. We wish to cover a wide variety of styles for our performances. There is no required level of musicianship, but a basic understanding of music and an enthusiasm for rock and pop is preferred.
String Quartet This is open to string players in any year. They will be working to develop their ensemble skills and gaining experience in performing and understanding rehearsal techniques.
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Flute Ensemble
MUSIC
Music Performance
*The following are available as individual music lessons: • • • • • • • • • •
Bassoon Cello Chanter Clarinet Classical/Folk Guitar Double Bass Drum-kit Electric Guitar Euphonium/Bass Flute
• • • • • • • • • •
Oboe Piano Recorder Saxophone Theory Trombone Trumpet/Cornet Viola Violin Voice
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Flaine
SPORT & GAMES
The athletics extra-curricular club runs during the Summer term and is open to all year groups. This club provides the opportunity for girls to come, consolidate and improve their athletic ability. All events are practised to enhance skill levels, enjoyment and the chance to be successful in competitions. Sprinting fast, jumping high and throwing far are the aims for the pupils at the club.
Bootcamp This is a circuit-based class which takes place outside in all weather conditions using the beautiful grounds of the school. The work incorporates bodyweight moves, running and sprinting with the added exercises of lifting, throwing and carrying logs. The girls have been getting wet and muddy, but also fit! This is open to anyone serious about their fitness. Tudor Bootcamp provides something for everyone and each of the exercises has adaptations to make them easier as well as progressions to make them harder for those who want to take their fitness up a level.
SPORT & GAMES
Athletics
Boxercise A fun, fast-paced exercise class involving all the elements of training like a boxer, just with none of the associated bruises and broken noses! Girls are put through their paces, learning the correct stance and footwork for boxing, along with the eight punches of boxercise. Sessions include ‘rounds’ of skipping, boxing combinations, shoulder tag sparring and circuit training to challenge the girls’ fitness.
Circuit Training This is a circuit class incorporating bodyweight moves such as press ups, sit-ups, burpees and other moves using light weights such as bicep curls, shoulder press and boxercise stations. This fun, fast-paced class benefits anyone who wants to get strong and athletic and develop their fitness for sports and their busy life at school. Each of the exercises has adaptations to make them easier and progressions to make them harder for those who want to take their fitness up a level.
*Clay Pigeon Shooting Shooting takes place at Honesberie Shooting School in Priors Marston, under the watchful eye of their professional instructors. The club is predominantly aimed at girls in the IIs and upwards who already have shooting experience. However, we welcome novice shots too. We enter several competitions throughout the season, with girls representing the school in both individual and team categories. Girls are provided with all the equipment they require, but are welcome to store their guns at the shooting school. Clay Pigeon Shooting
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SPORT & GAMES
Cross Country
Cross Country (including Banbury Harriers) The Cross Country Club is open to girls of all abilities and caters for those simply wanting to improve their fitness as well as those aiming to compete at a national level. Cross Country Club runs sessions twice a week and Tudor also has a strong affiliation with the Banbury Harriers Athletic Club. Those wishing to run at a competitive level are able to train at the club on a Thursday evening with the middle distance group. There are numerous races and competitions that runners can compete in for Tudor. More recently, a number of girls have also taken the opportunity to run as members of Banbury Harriers Athletics Club at weekends.
Fencing Fencing is a great way to keep fit. Some people enjoy the competition, and others enjoy treating lessons a little more like a dance class. If you have struggled to find a sport you enjoy, then it is well worth giving fencing a go.
Tudor Mud Run 2016
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This is a gym-based class utilising the fitness room at the Sports Hall. Using the weight machines and dumbbells, the girls learn how to work out their whole body in this fun class. The class also uses cardiovascular machines such as bikes, steppers and cross trainers to get those hearts and lungs pumping along with the music! The class culminates with the now famous ‘core-in-the-corridor’.
Football Come along and enjoy a fast-paced, highly skilful game of football. As the ball rebounds off the sports hall walls, it never goes out of play and the game continues for the full hour. In teams of five, with one-minute rolling substitutions, everyone gets a chance at stepping onto the court and making tackles, passes and shooting at the goal.
Hockey (including Banbury Hockey)
SPORT & GAMES
Fun Fitness
Hockey clubs run from Todd all the way through to the 1st XI. Each team has scheduled training sessions to work on technical play, team tactics and set pieces. There are also sessions open to all years to allow students to integrate and play with stronger players. All sessions are designed to improve fitness, individual technical ability and tactical awareness. Junior and senior girls can opt to join Banbury Hockey Club and are taken to weekly training sessions with the opportunity to play some weekend matches if school commitments allow.
Lacrosse The extra-curricular lacrosse clubs run from Todd to the 1st XII. The girls are encouraged to attend clubs for their year group as well as attend the clubs that are run for all, so that they better understand the fundamentals of the game, as well as improving their playing ability with the other years. We encourage the older girls to attend sessions with the younger years to assist in coaching and to share their love of the game.
Hockey
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SPORT & GAMES 36
Netball (including Banbury Blues) Extra-curricular netball clubs are run for each year group. The girls practise for the county tournaments, school matches and develop their skills and play games. There is also a shooting clinic open to all year levels where the girls can get specific coaching for shooting techniques. We have a strong club link with Banbury Blues Netball Club and Tudor girls are invited to train with the club on Thursday evenings on site at Tudor. A number of girls play for the club at the weekend.
Open Gym This provides an opportunity for the girls to use the gym under the supervision of a trained fitness professional. The girls are encouraged to build their own workouts and exercise programmes using the four movement patterns of squat, hinge, push and pull, and exercises to focus on core stability. Senior girls and the sports scholars are welcome to use this facility where advice can be given on exercise selection and coaching on the correct form and technique. Open gym is also about myth busting and building the girls’ confidence in a gym environment.
Netball
The Todds to UVI have the opportunity to join the Tudor Hall Polo Team and learn to play polo. The one-hour sessions are taught by qualified instructors at Dallas Burton Polo Club. The staff at the club will ensure that each girl has a thorough induction and give full instructions on the safety aspects of playing polo, as well as how to handle the polo ponies.
Pilates Pilates is a body conditioning routine that helps build flexibility, muscle strength, endurance in the legs, abdominals, arms, hips, and back. It puts emphasis on spinal and pelvic alignment, breathing, and developing a strong core or centre, thus improving co-ordination and balance. The Pilates instructor allows for different exercises to be modified in a range of standards, from beginner to advanced. Intensity can be increased over time as the body conditions and adapts to the exercises.
SPORT & GAMES
*Polo
Rounders, Softball and Cricket In the Summer term there are recreational sports clubs for all the striking and fielding summer sports. Girls are given the opportunity to come with friends to hone their skills and improve their tactical understanding of the three sports.
*Riding Girls of all ages and abilities have the opportunity to ride at Tudor Hall. We use Radway Riding Centre which is just over the border in Warwickshire. The stables have a team of fully qualified instructors on hand to teach everyone, whether you are a complete beginner or progressing nicely. They have a great selection of horses and ponies suitable for everyone but, more importantly, they are very good at dressage and show-jumping. Girls are grouped in lessons according to their ability.
Riding
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SPORT & GAMES 38
*Spiceball Gym Girls in the IVs to UVI have the opportunity to use the local sports and leisure centre, Spiceball, in Banbury on a Saturday morning in order to attend the multi-gym sessions aimed at the 14–16 age range. The staff at the gym will ensure that each girl has a thorough induction and they will be given full instructions on the safe use of all the apparatus.
Stretch and Conditioning Get supple, strong and stretch with this limbering, stretching and conditioning class. Tone up your body and do it the right way.
Pilates
SPORT & GAMES
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Tennis
SPORT & GAMES
Swimming
Swimming Each term there is a comprehensive swimming timetable with early birds from 7am and swimming at tea and after supper. There are many opportunities for the girls to enjoy the water, improve their water confidence or get serious with some competitive swimming. Competitive galas against local schools are available for the swimming squad, and individual training programmes are set so that the girls get the most out of the time they spend in the water.
*Tennis Alongside the opportunity to have paid tennis lessons all year round, there are also numerous tennis clubs in the Summer term making full use of the 14 tennis courts at the school. There are specific clubs for each year group designed to improve individual skills, specific fitness for tennis and singles and doubles match play. All girls are encouraged to attend practice sessions and are given individual attention by the tennis coaches and PE staff.
Zumba The class is fun and fast-paced with funky music. It is a mix of Salsa dancing, cheerleading and street dance, created specifically for the girls to get a mix of everything. The girls have developed their own cheerleading routines with this class in previous terms.
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Careers advice is available for girls in every year group. Girls are welcome to drop in to ask for advice on careers. There are specific sessions on work experience, CVs, university, higher apprentices and subject choices and applying for part-time or temporary jobs. There are separate drop-in sessions for IIIs, IVs and Vs. There is also one for LVI and UVI in the Sixth Form house each week.
Crossfire Crossfire is a fun and informal way to explore the Christian faith. We meet every week to look at the Bible and to learn about God and ourselves. It is a great chance to think about the big things in life, as well as play games and eat cake! Everyone is welcome to pop in, whether with questions, doubts, faith or just curiosity! Duke of Edinburgh’s Award
CLUBS & ACTIVITIES
Careers (Junior and Senior)
Duke of Edinburgh’s Award This programme is all about self-development. It focuses on helping our girls to improve existing skills and gain new talents, abilities or perspectives. Girls make new friends, develop social and inter-personal skills, and increase their initiative, organisational skills, independence and self-confidence as well as their tenacity. The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (D of E) is available to all girls at Tudor Hall from the Spring term of the IIIs. Participation in the scheme will encourage girls to be committed to a range of school activities. There are three levels of D of E Awards: Bronze (taken in the IIIs and IVs), Silver (IVs and Vs), and Gold in the Sixth form, with Gold being the highest. At each level, four activities must be completed: a skill, a physical recreation, a service and expeditions. In addition, at Gold level, each girl must attend a five-day residential activity of her choice. Expeditions take place over long weekends within term or during the Easter or Summer holidays.
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CLUBS & ACTIVITIES
First Aid The girls have the opportunity to undertake an ‘Emergency First Aid at Work’ course, learning about the law and the first aider. This includes the responsibilities of the first aider, how to look after casualties who are breathing but unconscious, the recovery position and CPR. Sessions have included practical bandaging and first aid scenarios, testing the girls and ensuring they know what to do in an emergency. This is a workplace-based qualification which will strengthen the girls’ record of achievement for future employment and, importantly, provide them with vital life skills.
Lifeguard Training Training is open to the girls in the Sixth Form and involves them in a 40-hour course covering the following three sections: The Lifeguard, Swimming Pool and Supervision; Intervention, Rescue and Emergency Action Plans; and CPR, Defibrillation and First Aid. This course is awarded by the Royal Lifesaving Society and the girls are subject to formal assessment by an external assessor at the end of the course in a series of theory questions, practical bandaging and first aid scenarios, and aquatic work in the swimming pool. The award, the National Pool Lifeguard Qualification, will enable girls to find work on their gap year straight out of school, or use this as a starting point for a career in the leisure industry. The award is equivalent to a First Aid at Work qualification and is recognised by employers.
Young Enterprise Young Enterprise gives LVI students the opportunity to form their own company, offer shares for sale, write a business plan, provide a service or sell different products and take a valuable role within their company. They have weekly meetings where they can put forward ideas, review their selling strategy and discuss their finances. At the end of their experience they write a company report, do a 4 minute PowerPoint presentation at the area county finals and pay VAT on their earnings. It gives them a real insight into how business works from the differing roles that they undertake throughout the year and how to work together as a team.
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Young Enterprise
Please note that some Mandarin, Polo, Riding, Speech and Drama, and Tennis lessons may take place during prep. Your daughter’s tutor will help her to manage her time so that she can catch up on any prep sessions missed. Music lessons for the Todd to IIIs take place during academic lessons and for the IVs to UVI, lessons are timetabled during their free periods. Please note that a clear term’s notice is required to cancel most chargeable activities.
Parent Portal The following information is available on the Parent Portal for current parents: • Extra-curricular timetable
CHARGEABLE ACTIVITIES
In addition to the activities offered by staff on site, some activities are chargeable and are marked with a * throughout this booklet.
• A list of your daughter’s chargeable activities • Sign-up and cancellation forms for chargeable activities
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www.tudorhallschool.com