Prep schools necessarily focus on the delivery of a robust and stimulating academic curriculum. However, one of the most appealing aspects of this style of education is the extensive co-curricular opportunities that complement the learning taking place within the classroom.
The benefits of co-curricular opportunities in prep and primary schools are far reaching. The unique scope independent schools have of nurturing the arts and sports, among other extra-curricular endeavours, can enrich the lives of students.
With purpose-built facilities and experienced professionals on hand, Prep schools are able to seamlessly dovetail stimulating, challenging and creative outlets with the children’s curricular lessons. To this end, parents and children benefit from the efficiency of engaging in a wide range of activities integrated within the normal working day.
With age-appropriate instruction ranging from basic principles to scholarship level extension, there is something for everyone. A good Prep school encourages all children to try many different co-curricular options before making a more focused commitment as the child moves up through the school. This is how sparks of interest are ignited and life-long passions are kindled for boys and girls in an atmosphere of purposeful productivity that children find both rewarding and fulfilling.
Weekend Co-Curriculars at Prep School
It is unsurprising to see many Prep schools move away from formal academic lessons on a Saturday and opt for the model that TDM (The Downs Malvern) has employed since its foundation. In this model, Co-curricular activities take place on a Saturday morning and the traditional competitive sports fixtures occur on a Saturday afternoon. Other activities take place in the afternoon and early evening throughout the week, reducing the need for parents to ferry their children around the countryside to various clubs and events.
Day School Opportunities
The TDM Pastoral structures also ensure that each child has a balance of activities across the week. The school is agile enough to ensure that the level and type of involvement is tailored to the pupil’s abilities, interests and energy levels.
Whilst staff and external tutors often provide the bulk of the options, there is also the opportunity for likeminded children to propose an activity they would like to engage in. In these cases, there is often an enthusiastic member of staff who is able to resource and facilitate new ideas. In this manner, the pupils also benefit from the planning, resourcing and organisational processes which are necessary aspects of developing an idea from its inception.
Expanding the Curriculum
Some of the co-curricular options stem from the weekly timetable with focused sessions of specific Sports, Creative Arts clubs and academic spin offs such as coding and orchestra. However, there are many opportunities that would otherwise not find a place in a busy formal curriculum.
Minor sporting activities such as Tennis, Mountain biking, Cross Country and Yoga allow the school to utilise its location in stunning surroundings. There are also extra sessions for aspiring sports scholars and county stars in the swimming pool, indoor cricket nets, or on the Astroturf.
One of the most important aspects of the Co-curriculum is that it offers time. Time for the activities that require that investment, whether it’s time to practice a musical instrument either on ones own, or as part of an ensemble, band, or orchestra. Time is also required for budding artists to develop their portfolios, develop new techniques, or diversify into pottery or textiles.
Time and space is also needed for the collective rehearsals required for the collaborative endeavours such as productions, concerts and plays. This is how the school develops rounded individuals who enjoy a breath of experience, confidence in performance and a willingness to accept and tackle new challenges.
Building valuable Skills
Beyond the Sports and Arts, there are further initiatives to challenge and stimulate the young minds within a supportive environment.
Our entrepreneur initiatives allow the pupils to develop the skills of forming and running their own business. The Green-team takes charge of the school’s environmental credentials, seeking ways to enhance the school’s ecological responsibility.
Charity work builds on the pupil’s natural tendency to think of others and recognise and address inequality in its many forms. It also allows the children to gain a sense of perspective of their own place in the local, national and global community.
Many of the co-curricular options combine the instructional element with softer problem solving and social skills. These include collaboration, communication, resilience, curiosity, and commitment – all of which are becoming increasingly important attributes in an ever-changing world.
The school’s Downs Light Railway is one such example of this approach. The railway provides the pupils with meaningful engineering experience and an enviable STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering an Maths) opportunity which fuels academic potential. The pupils work both with adults and group of peers from across the age range to collaborate in maintaining and running a collection of steam, diesel and electric engines.
Elevating the Self Worth of Pupils
The Co-curricular programme gives the school a depth of experience for the whole community to enjoy. It represents the richness of life and engages the children to develop lifelong habits and recognise that learning is not restricted to a traditional didactic classroom experience.
It is a far cry from the addictive nature of unfettered internet access that is causing so much damage to our children’s minds. At TDM, we are firm proponents that active and healthy bodies engender healthy minds. The involvement of children with fulfilling and deeply engaging activities with like-minded peers is an effective counterbalance to the mental health issues that are so prevalent in today’s society.
There also exists a virtuous circle of mutual inspiration, motivation and participation where the interaction between pupils and teachers beyond the classroom supports greater levels of empathy and understanding.
A child who struggles in a particular academic subject can develop true self-worth and wide recognition for their abilities in a co-curricular environment. This can aid them in gaining the respect and admiration from the whole school community for their particular skillset. It can also give the children the ability to recognise their own individual profile and enjoy the success of others.
In demonstrating a high level of ability in a given co-curricular area, a child can gain self-belief and a sense of self-worth with their own ‘expertise’. This results in them often being seen by peers as the expert in a chosen field and respected for the contribution they make to the school community as a whole.
It is often noted that ‘Success breeds success’. It is no surprise that the pupils who invest in the co-curricular opportunities ultimately tackle their academic endeavours with the same ‘can-do’ attitude and growth mindset that spills over from pursuing their passions beyond the classroom.
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