EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
T oday, opportunities outside the classroom are almost as education. While traditional sports are still central to the extracurricular programmes at our schools, there’s also so much more for pupils to get involved in. Given the breadth and range of extracurricular activities on offer, it’s a minor miracle that schools in our area manage to pack it all into the school day. But while the logistics can be challenging (have pity on the member of staff tasked with making the timetable work for every pupil), school leaders in our area are in no doubt that it’s worth every ounce of effort. Personal development Encompassing clubs, activities, sports – everything, in fact, that happens out of the classroom – the extracurricular (or co-curricular) programme can be where important as those inside when it comes to providing a rounded children effectively find themselves. As Daniel Koch, senior deputy head at Kimbolton School, explains: “It’s where they develop their passions in many ways: getting outdoors, doing something different outside the classroom, being creative and experiencing everything life has to offer.” More than that, he says, it’s a powerful incentive to counter other pressures that young people face. “You could very easily get sucked into doing nothing but studying and using your phone – and that’s not good for young people – or people of any age.” Trying new things also gives pupils vital life lessons. In a society that values tangible achievements, trying out activities can help develop skills “rather than purely ticking off another grade or level,” says James Piper, head of the Perse Prep.
No wonder schools describe extracurricular activities as one of the key pillars of the educational experience, along with academics and pastoral care. “For a good-quality school to thrive, all three of these have to be outstanding,” says Dominic Atkinson, deputy head of co-curricular at Gresham’s. Outstanding, yes, but very definitely not prescriptive. Schools’ extracurricular offerings are arguably where there is the most room for flexibility, and where students’ talents and interests can develop and be celebrated. “It’s about shaping the whole person and allowing them to create their own individual pathway,” says Jenny McLeod, deputy head of co-curricular (11-18) at Stephen Perse Cambridge. “Our mission statement as a school is to allow pupils to follow their own pathways to success, and a lot of what we offer is quite flexible.” That can translate into running a club or activity – if possible – even when the uptake is low. “If a couple of students are really passionate about something, we still want to be able to facilitate them to do that activity,” Jenny affirms. In numbers alone, the schools’ extracurricular offerings are dazzling. Kimbolton School runs around 65 clubs a term (not including those linked to sports), pupils at the Perse Prep have a choice of around 80, while more than 120 clubs run every week for pupils in years 7-13 at Stephen Perse Cambridge. Uptake of activities can be equally extraordinary, with around 70% of pupils at Gresham’s involved in its Combined Cadet Force. Any given week (sometimes even in the holidays, not just term time), there could be rehearsals for concerts and productions, or expeditions for students working towards their Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards. There’s also one-off events like Gresham’s whole-school 5km fundraising event with an obstacle course or Kimbolton School’s prize-winning participation in a 125-mile, four-day canoe endurance race from Devizes to Westminster. A programme of many parts If fitting so much into the school day (even if that does extend to early morning starts and quite often Saturdays as well) is a huge challenge, so too is working out what exactly the extracurricular menu should include and how to ensure there’s something to cater for every taste. Involving students is key, thinks Jenny at Stephen Perse Cambridge. “Students tell us what they want to do, so it might be that we run some clubs one year but not the next, depending on their levels of interest.” At Gresham’s, both existing and potential elements in the extracurricular
IN THE FIELDS Activities like sports at Kimbolton School (right) and climbing at Gresham’s (below) get students outside, away from their screens
programme are regularly reviewed and either maintained, removed, enhanced or introduced. Teachers are also encouraged to build on their interests, which can lead to major new projects. “We have a member of staff who is hugely into agriculture,” says Dominic. “We have a farm onsite – a smallholding – and are doing crop trials. It’s developed organically over the last three years.” While there is similar variety on offer at other schools – from Warhammer to aeronautical engineering at Kimbolton School, taekwondo to coding at the Perse Prep and yoga, Zumba and martial arts (as well as Dungeons and Dragons) at Stephen Perse Cambridge – traditional
54 AUGUST 2025 CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK
Powered by FlippingBook