SENIOR SCHOOL CO-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

There are over 60 clubs on offer each week for pupils in the Senior School to take part in. These are wide ranging and allow our pupils to spend their extra time finding new passions, trying out new activities or simply continuing to do what they already enjoy.

Games and sports

The school offers many sports for pupils to take part in, whether it is for fun, fitness or to represent the school. Sport is a much-loved aspect of school life and pupils not only have the opportunity to participate within their PE and Games lessons but at lunch times and after school too. Our major sports include: rugby; lacrosse; football; netball; cricket and tennis, with matches mainly take place on Saturdays. Pupils are introduced to many other sports and physical activities within their PE lessons and during their lunch breaks. Our gymnastics and golf teams have also recently competed at a high level. We are proud to offer archery and fencing, alongside basketball and trampolining, to name a few.

Musical activities

Musical activities flourish within the Senior School. Our music department has a variety of different music groups on offer, from the brass ensemble to a rock band. The choir and orchestra perform in assemblies and concerts throughout the year. Instrumental teas for all abilities are performed each term and we host a House Music competition and a talent show which have been judged by experts in the field. Rock, pop and jazz music-making is encouraged and fully supported by the music department. Specialist music tuition is available in a wide range of instruments.

Drama

Each year sees a major production as well as a variety of smaller dramatic pieces. We encourage pupils to audition for onstage roles but also encourage them to work behind the scenes or learn how to operate lighting and sound controls.

The drama and music departments often work together on large scale musical productions such as last year’s ‘Oliver!’ performance. Other recent past productions include Alice in Wonderland, Othello, Macbeth and annually we encourage our sixth form to write their own pantomime.

We have performed at the Rose Theatre in Kingston, taking part in the Shakespeare’s School competition, and allowing pupils to ‘tread the boards’ of a professional stage. The performance opportunities don’t stop there as the English department often run poetry recitals and recently took part and hosted the regional final of the English Speaking Union’s Performing Shakespeare competition. Speech and drama lessons are also available and enable pupils to develop their performance skills with the opportunity to enter LAMDA exams.

Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme

We offer DofE Bronze to pupils in Year 9 and the overwhelming majority take up this fantastic opportunity. Throughout the year they complete a range of expeditions as a team, learn new skills and take part in community volunteering projects in order to qualify. After that, it’s their choice to work towards Silver and Gold, and a large number of our pupils do so. The expeditions allow pupils to demonstrate a range of practical and survival skills, with the majority taking place on weekends at locations in England and Wales. It may be hard work but is always worth it, with a huge sense of achievement at the end.

Young Enterprise

Teams of pupils from Year 10 and Year 12 are given the opportunity to set up and run their own business. They create business plans, pitch to a team of “dragons” and make their own products which they sell at various events throughout the year. They also take part in the Peter Jones Tycoon challenge which is a nationally run competition for budding entrepreneurs. Previous businesses have included reusable sandwich wraps, bags for dog walkers and sustainable light shades. The programme helps pupils to develop skills such as teamwork and problem solving.