Co - Curricular

At St Nicholas’, our co-curricular programme refers to the academic, personal, spiritual, creative and physical development of every pupil, alongside a sound understanding of community. A key component in the delivery of a well-rounded education, our co-curricular programme develops the whole child and affects almost all areas of school life. By engaging in these opportunities and experiences, pupils develop the intellectual, personal, emotional and social skills that are needed to work in a rapidly globalising world, whilst enhancing their enjoyment of school life.

As a through school, we have the unique opportunity to monitor and support the progress of every pupil according to their strengths and abilities at each key stage. Offering experiences that are meaningful and child-centred is our focus, whether that be exploring Forest School in Early Years lessons, participating in the popular Duke of Edinburgh scheme, or even working alongside teaching specialists during Activity Weeks. A broad and balanced co-curricular programme develops social skills, nurtures a willingness to take risks, boosts confidence and enhances the development of leadership skills whilst also providing inspirational role models in our senior girls for the younger children in our community, continuously preparing our pupils for a life after St Nicholas’.

In this section of the website please explore some elements of our co-curricular programme in more detail.

Co-curricular programme

We are always seeking to further develop our co-curricular provision with the help of our PTA, parents, alumni and members of our local community.

If you have any queries regarding co-curricular, please contact:

Mr Paul Nicholls
Director of Co-curricular

A well-designed and successful Co-curricular programme complements rather than conflicts with the core academic curriculum. Engagement with non-academic pursuits is not only beneficial to student development, but is known to be highly valued by employers. It may seem like a small change, but by demonstrating to students that we view these activities as equally important to academic study, we encourage participation. At St Nicholas' we encourage them to take control of their academic and personal development to shape their own future.

Infants

Throughout their time in Branksomewood, the children enjoy regular Forest School sessions, planned and delivered by fully trained staff.  Activities in Forest School are child-led opportunities to develop initiative and curiosity. Providing ‘Awe and Wonder’ moments is one of the programme’s real strengths.  It welcomes children into a beautiful, natural setting where they learn, play and explore using organic resources and toasting marshmallows on the campfire is always a real treat to look forward to!

Trips and visits in the Infant Department also play an important part in supporting our topic-based curriculum.  As well as providing opportunities to develop personal and social skills, these allow the children to explore new environments that extend and reinforce classroom learning. 

Forest School - Infants and Juniors

Mindfulness Walks

Juniors

As the girls move into the Junior school, the co-curricular opportunities and experiences are widened. Regular Forest School sessions continue to be delivered focussing on reinforcing initiative and curiosity through child-led activities.  For those new to Forest School, it welcomes children into a beautiful natural setting where they learn, play and explore using organic resources and of course toasting marshmallows on the campfire is always a real treat to look forward to no matter what age you are!  The Forest School programme strategically develops through the Junior years; children are encouraged to take more calculated risks, as well as embracing and nurturing the skills of resilience, teamwork and collaborative thinking.

Trips and visits in the Junior Department allow the children to explore new environments that extend and reinforce classroom learning.  Kidzania and Finkley Down Farm remain firm favourites in the lower Junior years while Year 5 pupils travel to the Isle of Wight for a 4 day residential.  On this trip the girls work towards their John Muir Award focusing on the Discovery, Exploration, Conservation and Sharing of their experiences - this builds on their Forest School experiences to further appreciate nature and the outdoors.  The commitment to independence and adventure continues in Year 6 where a trip to Devon provides a variety of outdoor pursuits and team-building activities to challenge the girls.

Exploring career pathways is increasingly more important in an ever-changing climate of technology and global opportunity and as well as providing opportunities to develop personal and social skills, trips and visits in the Juniors begin to expose pupils to the world of work through initiatives with organisations such as Baylab and Microsoft.  STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Maths) and languages weeks provide further curriculum enrichment.  

The co-curricular programme further extends to lunchtime activities for the Junior pupils, ranging from choirs to sport to an iMovie club: these provide further enrichment to the curriculum.  The girls can sign up for clubs at the beginning of each term under the guidance of their form tutor.

To support transition into the upper school, the Senior girls are encouraged to form links with the Juniors through regular House music and drama competitions, fostering collaborative working opportunities for the Junior children, as well as providing inspirational role models for our younger girls. Organised by Year 10, these events are real highlights of the school calendar.  

Junior Eco-Club

Seniors

Senior students are encouraged to be altruistic through providing opportunities for new challenges and service in the community, along with charitable fundraising including our own Race for Life.  In Year 7 this takes the form of our LORICE scheme. Launched September 2019, it provides the girls with the opportunity and independence to develop their Leadership, Organisation, Resilience, Initiative, Communication and Entrepreneurialism. 

As a fully Licensed Duke of Edinburgh Centre, as from November 2019, we offer both Bronze and Silver Awards. A Sports Leaders initiative is also introduced for girls in Years 8 to 11.  

The popular NCS (National Citizen Service) scheme is actively promoted within School for our Year 11 students through various activities, ranging from information evenings to team-building workshops. More information on this scheme can be found at www.ncsyes.co.uk

In Years 10 and 11, the girls increasingly take on roles of responsibility; Eco-reps, mentors for the lower year groups, guides at School Open events, leading clubs and activities and chairing School Council meetings.  These are in addition to the more traditional roles of Head Girl, Deputy Head Girl, prefects, House and Sports Captains. Leadership opportunities are further offered in Year 11, and for members of our alumni, on our Activity Week programmes where the girls work alongside trained staff to plan and lead activities for younger pupils.  

Music, drama, art, sport and a number of additional informal ‘drop in’ style subject-led clubs make up the extensive range of lunchtime activities on offer for our Senior pupils.  Trips and visits in the Senior Department include Iceland, France, PGL and The Globe Theatre. Academic development is enhanced through enrichment initiatives including Careers Evenings, Music concerts (both formal and informal), Bands and Choirs, drama productions, Science (CREST) Awards, Model United Nations (MUN), STEM and Language Weeks which stimulate intellectual acquisitiveness.

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