Duke of Edinburgh Award
St Mary’s offers pupils the opportunity to participate in the DofE Award Scheme. This challenges young people aged 14 to 25 around the world to serve others, acquire new skills, experience adventure and make new friends.
It is valued highly by colleges, universities and employers. The DofE Award has provided our students with some life-changing experiences, as well as being a lot of fun!
The Award is split into four sections. Each of which participants must satisfactorily complete. The first three sections of the Award are almost limitless in their range of choice. Within these sections, each girl is encouraged to select her own programme of activities. Some of which she may already be involved in, and others of which may be entirely new experiences.
Productions
We have a choir, chamber choir and orchestra that perform at concerts every term. The Carol Service and Prize Giving are highlights in the calendar. There are also events focusing on particular year groups. These have included events such as music showcases and drama productions.
A full-scale drama production takes place every two years. Recent productions have included Scrooge, Aladdin, The Wizard of Oz and Three Cheers for Maisy. The productions have involved girls from across year groups, both as performers and crew.
Challenge Week
Broadening horizons is the aim of St Mary’s Senior School’s annual Challenge Week. Whether travelling across Europe or closer to home, pupils have the opportunity to take part in cultural visits, excursions and challenges. They are designed to bring an extra dimension to their studies and develop their general understanding of the world. There is also an option of staying in school for Challenge Week, with a number of activities on offer to help the girls develop a range of valuable life skills.
Trips and residential stays
There is a programme of trips and visits to enhance students’ learning in all subjects. These have included science trips to the Eden Project and New Scientist Live, Classics department visits to London to see productions of relevant works of literature, Geography fieldtrips and Art Department trips to the most influential exhibitions.
There are also whole school ski trips abroad and inspirational day trips to watch major sporting events or productions.
There are opportunities to represent the School at Round Square conferences across the globe, where pupils join others from all over the world in workshops and activities. They provide outstanding personal development opportunities, enhancing social and leadership skills. They also broaden intercultural understanding and forge lifelong friendships.
You can find out more about all the visits and activities on offer at one of our open days or on a private tour, which can be arranged for a time that’s convenient to you. Arrange a visit online or contact our Registrar, Mrs Justine Tierney at registrar@stmaryscolchester.org.uk.
