Co-Curricular is Back!

In recent months, finding opportunities for young people to express, debate, relax and lead safely in groups has become a national challenge; one that has highlighted the very importance of these pursuits. Now, perhaps more than ever, Fryer through to Sixth Form have been able to enjoy the opportunities that our diverse co-curricular and prep club programme offers and we are delighted to have our hobbies up and running for the Autumn Term.

With change comes opportunity; as adaptations such as implementing year group bubbles and increased forward planning have become necessary in these exceptional circumstances, so has the drive to get outdoors and really utilise our beautiful 65-acres, as well as think creatively about and innovate what we can offer.

Music, Art and Sport are just a few areas where co-curricular has gone al fresco. When Drawing Club have been sketching Peckover and the Park in the late sun, Orchestra can be heard playing together from their individual year group marquees, united by mic’d Director of Music, Rosemary Scales.

Alongside the return of regular activities such as APP, Dance and Book Club, exciting new arrivals including Fryer & The Chocolate Factory, Adventure Club and Girls’ Rugby have graced the co-curricular programme. Led by new Geography Teacher, Ellie Smales, Girl’s Rugby allows Fryer to progress their basic skills into a game setting.

Ella in Year 7 enthused, “I have never played rugby before and I love it! The teachers are so kind and so funny, I laugh more times than I can count and everyone is so friendly as they let you make mistakes but most importantly let you learn from them. I feel like I’m part of a team which feels amazing.”

Despite only having met once so far this term, Sixth Form charity group, AMICUS, have already began forming exciting plans for the year ahead; from fundraising for fellow Quaker School, Brummana, in Lebanon which was devasted by the tragic 4th August explosion, to a #HelloYellow Mufti Day on Friday 10th October, in support of mental health charity Young Minds. With Movember and the return of the Christmas Appeal collaboration with Reading Family Aid, there are lots of initiatives to look forward to.

Also preparing for December’s festivities is Sixth Form Drama Club with rehearsals for their special adaptation of Dickens’ ‘A Christmas Carol’ underway, whilst Year 10 tread the boards in Moliere’s famous theatrical comedy ‘Tartuffe’.

Co-curricular at Leighton Park is about encouraging students to try new things, discover and nurture talent, and to challenge themselves to go beyond their own expectations. As we together navigate changing conditions around the pandemic, we will continue to ensure our programme underpins all of these values whilst remaining safe for our students.