After school activities

CHANCE TO GAIN EXPERIENCES OUTSIDE OF THE SCHOOL DAY

From the age of 14, young people can work towards earning The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. Most schools will run a DofE programme with three progressive levels which, when successfully completed, lead to a Bronze, Silver or Gold award. Not only is it an opportunity to discover new interests and talents but it’s also a recognised mark of achievement; respected by employers. There are four sections to complete at Bronze and Silver level and five at Gold. They involve helping the community/ environment, becoming fitter, developing new skills, planning, training for and completing an expedition and, for Gold only, working with a team on a residential activity. Any young person can do their DofE – regardless of ability, gender, background or location. It is said that achieving a DofE award is all about setting personal challenges and pushing personal boundaries. Other extra-curricular activities include the Army Cadets, Sea Cadets and RAF Air Cadets, which all offer a wide range of adventurous and educational activities opportunities. The Army Cadets is a national voluntary youth organisation sponsored and supported by the Army but not part of it. It’s open to young people from 12 to 17 years old. Sea Cadets welcome Junior Cadets at 10, and Sea Cadets at 12, or Royal Marines Cadets at 13.

The RAF Air Cadet experience is open to everyone, if they’re between 13 (or at age 12 when beginning school year 8) and 17 years old.

Take advantage of opportunities

From playing in the band to being part of a sports team, there is more to school life than just what goes on in the classroom.

In addition to their lessons, your son or daughter will have the chance to join in a whole host of extra-curricular activities. Every school will offer a packed programme to ensure there is something to suit all interests.

Maybe your child will already have a favourite sport or other interest they want to continue or they might choose to try something new. Your child will no doubt have plenty of opportunities and it is something that should always be encouraged.

Joining after-school clubs can make it easier for them to settle in to their new surroundings and make friends. Children, especially those that are shy, may be concerned about how they are going to get to know their new classmates. They will be moving from a school where they knew everybody’s name and now they could be in a class with children they have never seen before.

It is also a great chance for your child to develop an existing interest or start a new hobby, which could turn into a life-long passion. All schools will offer sessions, with meetings taking place either before lessons, during lunch breaks and at the end of the day.

If your child doesn’t have a particular interest already, encourage them to try something new and hopefully they will end up enjoying it and will want to continue. Once your child has found an activity that they enjoy, succeeding in that activity could ultimately build their confidence and self-esteem.

As well as all kinds of sports, they could get involved in special-interest clubs such as science or computing, music tuition and modern foreign languages, as well as homework clubs. Popular extracurricular activities include book groups, creative writing, and performing arts such as drama or choir groups.

Another benefit of extra-curricular activities is that they allow your children to make a contribution to their school or community, helping to prepare them for later in life. For example, if they play in a school band they may stage a concert that is open for the public to enjoy.

They also present opportunities for your child to set goals for themselves such as passing a music exam, or being picked for the lead role in a play.

Sports teams, clubs and activities, like dancing and music, all require children to work together towards a common goal. By joining an after-school club, they will also have the chance to mix with children of other age groups and outside their own circle of friends.