Beyond the Classroom

At St Mary’s we prepare pupils for life after school by providing ample opportunity for girls to broaden their skills and knowledge.

As many pupils travel to school by school bus or public transport, clubs and activities are scheduled within the school day. The exceptions are some sport training sessions, matches and drama rehearsals. This also means the girls can continue attending any clubs or activities they enjoy participating in outside of school, have sufficient time for homework and can enjoy spending time with their families.

Enrichment programme

All pupils have two Enrichment lessons every week as part of their timetable. Examples have included Biology Workshops, Public Speaking, Women Around the World, Code Crackers, Engineering and Chess. The pupils are on a carousel programme in mixed year groups organised in their House. They move around every term so they will have the opportunity to take part in different activities over the course of the year. Every term pupils also have the option to choose a PE Enrichment in this session. This allows students to take part in the chosen sport for an hour each week.

Lunchtime clubs and sports fixtures

Lunchtime Clubs are entirely optional but present more opportunities for pupils to broaden their interests. There are opportunities for sportswomen of all abilities to take part in clubs and squad training throughout the year. Sports fixtures take place after school, either at home or away. We have a diverse range of thriving clubs which are continually reviewed, taking pupil preferences into account. Examples have included drama sessions, choir and orchestra, craft club, and a student-led taster course in Japanese.

Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) 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 and The Wizard of Oz. 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