EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
team sports remain a mainstay of the extracurricular programme in our area’s schools; something that’s unlikely to change any time soon. Football, rugby, netball, hockey and cricket stay dominant on the fixtures list – and for good reason. Skills such as leadership, resilience and the reality of coping with failure, as well as success, are all part of the experience. And just as valuable are all the other elements that go into being part of something bigger than yourself. “We have A to D teams for girls and boys so that everyone gets the match-day experience,” says James at the Perse Prep. When fixtures are arranged, a lot of work goes into ensuring the teams are evenly matched so that “whatever standard you’re at, you could still get the winning goal and enjoy the sport. But it also involves getting into match kit on the day, going on the coach journey to another school, having a match tea and winning or losing together.” Far from ‘all work and no play’ It can sound as if every element of life outside lessons is highly organised. But schools also make sure that there are times when the pace is dialled down and students can recharge their batteries. At break times, children at the Perse Prep can make full use of the school’s seven acres of parkland, building dens and playing in the bushes and trees – fully supervised, of course. Stephen Perse Cambridge pupils, meanwhile, might relax by playing chess or board games in the library, or creating tiny hats for special care babies in the drop-in Knitwits crochet and knitting club. “There is time for them to be children,” says Jenny. While sound pedagogical reasoning underpins the value of extracurriculars, there’s another, purely emotional reason why it matters so much. “Adults looking back at their childhood might not remember many of their lessons, despite all the hard work that goes into planning them,” points out James. Instead, what he describes as those ‘wowee’ moments tend to be forged outside the classroom. And while schools invest a whole lot of energy and thought into ensuring their extracurricular programmes create an offering so rounded that it would probably qualify as a ball sport in its own right, it’s also about having a thoroughly good time. “We do lots of things that are just fun,” confirms Daniel at Kimbolton School, where casual events include a treasure hunt round the school. “It’s simply a nice thing to do – and everyone needs a bit of that.” NO LIMITS (Right, top to bottom) Creative, arty clubs at Gresham’s, water sports such as sailing at Kimbolton, and archery training at Stephen Perse Cambridge show the range of offerings available
56 AUGUST 2025 CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK
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