OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL –
Co-Curricular and Enrichment activities are available to all students in the school from Year 7 to Year 13. There is no minimum, maximum or ideal number of activities for students; each individual is encouraged to develop interests, stretch their understanding and challenge themselves at a rate that is right for them. Throughout the programme students are encouraged to develop skills such as communication, self-organisation, composure, decision making, awareness and creativity.
VARIED LEARNING BEYOND THE CLASSROOM
Clubs and activities take place around the school day, with some scheduled during the lunch break and others after school, or outside of school hours. Our transport arrangements are designed so that students who take part in after-school clubs can still catch the school bus home. Given the nature of the varied timings for external fixtures however, travel arrangements for those representing the school for fixtures or performances are organised in collaboration with parents on a case-by-case basis.
Students are encouraged to try a new club or activity for at least a term, but there is no obligation to continue for longer, unless this is desired. Clubs and activities are formed predominantly from a blend of free sessions – run by members of the SWPS staff or Sixth Form students – and paid-for sessions, which are provided by external suppliers. There are around 150 different activities on offer each week at SWPS including sports team training sessions, ‘Inquiring Minds’, for academic enrichment, drama productions, music group rehearsals and opportunities to learn and develop new skills - such as Chess Club or Light and Sound Crew Training - which don’t ordinarily form part of the curriculum.
ENCOURAGING LEADERSHIP
Many of the activities also offer leadership opportunities, where students in the Sixth Form will assist younger students in the school, under light staff supervision, for the benefit of their peers or younger members of the community. For our older students, leadership of a school activity provides excellent evidence for the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, and many pupils work towards the SWPS Diploma, or as support in a UCAS application for the move to university.
From time-to-time the breadth and type of activities is updated to ensure the programme supports our students to develop talents and interests outside of the classroom. The Co-Curricular and Enrichment programme is designed to help enhance the wellbeing of students; physically, creatively, emotionally and intellectually, taking them beyond their comfort zones, creating leadership opportunities, friendships and hopefully making good memories for life. We believe these experiences help ‘build confidence, integrity and excellence’, getting hearts pumping, minds buzzing and talents flowing!
EVOLVING EXPERIENCES
As our Co-Curricular and Enrichment programme is constantly evolving, the following provides a flavour of the type of activities on offer for SWPS students at every stage of their journey through school. Parents and students will receive advance notification each term of the following term’s available activities, including the year groups they are open to and whether an additional fee is charged for peace of mind and forward planning.
We know how busy family life can be, so at SWPS we use SOCS (School Online Communication System) to manage the huge selection of Co-Curricular activities we offer. SOCS allows students to view all available cocurricular options, sign up to them, manage their co-curricular timetables and also allows parents to access an overview of their child’s weekly activities.
INQUIRING MINDS
We encourage all our young minds to be curious. We hope our students are fascinated by new concepts and want to embrace indepth exploration of themes and topics they perhaps can’t always examine during lesson time. We support our learners to open their minds to trying some of the ‘Inquiring Minds’ activities which include Academic Ambition talks, subject-specific clinics, Greek Club, Book Club, Mandarin, Science Club, Lego Robotics Club and for our senior students, the Society for Prospective Medics, Dentists, and Vets.
CREATIVE AND EXPRESSIVE
For those who enjoy being creative, artistic, imaginative, expressing emotion, performing for different audiences, and being part of audiences for others, as well as learning key skills there is a lot on offer. These clubs are rich, inspiring, stimulating and include activities such as Art, Drama, for example Year group Drama clubs, School Production, Lighting and Sound Crew, Music, including a vast range of Choirs and Orchestras, for budding designersSustainable Fashion and for technology-lovers, DVEC - digital video - club.
ACTION FOR CHANGE
We want our students to have an eye on the future and the world around them so fostering feelings of care and responsibility to the environment and others within it is strongly encouraged. To develop effective contributors, who can express creativity, work co-operatively and communicate with others, and in so doing, show initiative, dependability, leadership and enterprise, clubs are offered which support these initiatives and enable students to make a difference. After all, ‘mighty oaks from little acorns grow!’ Examples of clubs in this category include Female Lead Society, Eco Club, Diversity and Inclusion Society and Debating Society.
SPORT
Physical activity plays a key role in enhancing the well-being and mental health of students and greater participation in sport and physical activities promotes healthy bodies and healthy minds. To this end we offer clubs before school, at lunch and after school, and we participate in a full fixtures programme with other schools. Students who regularly attend clubs are encouraged to represent the school, not only in our main sports of netball and hockey, but also across a wide range of activities. All Sports clubs are free including, SWPS Fit which is designed to give all participants the opportunity to boost their mood, fitness, and energy levels, whilst learning the fundamentals of athletic development. We make full use of our facilities: three netball/tennis courts, a training AstroTurf, four badminton court sized Sports Hall, a dance studio and a shared fitness studio with Rowing. Rowing is extremely popular at SWPS and one of the school’s major sports, starting in the form of the ‘Ready to Row’ Strength and Conditioning sessions in Year 8, progressing to a Water Learn to Row camp in the summer of Year 8. Rowing in Year 9 becomes a full co-curricular option. We then offer a performance pathway from Year 10 onwards for those looking to be competitive in the sport, but also offer a recreational route as part of games afternoons.
DUKE OF EDINBURGH
The school is extremely proud of the
continuity in offering all three awards for Duke of Edinburgh – Bronze, Silver and Gold, with participation rates high for the size of the school. As a mark of the high standards we maintain, SWPS is an accredited Licenced Organisation for DofE. Students start their DofE journey in Year 9 and must complete volunteering, skills, physical and expedition sections to achieve their award. For Gold there is also a residential section. Time and commitment expectations increase for each section as students progress from Bronze to Silver and on to Gold.
TRIPS AND VISITS
Trips and visits are an important element of enhancing curriculum and pastoral aspects of the school, giving your child unique experiences to broaden their learning journey. Staff run numerous trips, from team building events for whole year groups, to theatre visits, subject specific field trips and international sport tours.
INTER-HOUSE COMPETITIONS
A number of Inter-House events occur throughout the year, giving the opportunity for some healthy competition between our four Houses – Lonsdale, Montagu, Pankhurst and Quant.
