Many of a school's important activities take place outside of school hours, says Liam Butler

Many of a school’s important activities take place outside of school hours, says Liam Butler

It’s what goes on outside the classroom that really sets independent schools apart from their maintained counterparts. Trips to far flung destinations, speech and drama, sports fixtures, and music concerts are just some of the extra-curricular activities that independent schools offer their pupils. It’s never been a better time to take advantage of all the extra-curricular activities that independent schools in your area offer to pupils. Everything from ‘speed stacking’ to knitting is offered by ISC schools in order to give pupils a more rounded educational experience. Some activities serve as a welcome distraction from the classroom curriculum where as others compliment taught lessons with the term ‘co-curricular’ being used more and more by schools in order to demonstrate that what goes on outside the classroom is clearly linked to what goes on inside.Duke of Edinburgh is also a scheme which has been available to pupils for years but schools are coming up with more imaginative activities to keep the scheme fresh and current. University applications benefit from a personal statement laden with extra-curricular activities and students who demonstrate a commitment to an all-rounded education will generally fair better than those who fail to advantage of the opportunities available. Teamwork and leadership skills gained through participation in something like CCF (Combined Cadet Force) are things that stay with a child for life. In many independent schools teachers with hobbies and passions outside the classroom are encouraged to set up clubs to pass on their skills to the student body. Just click on any school’s website and you’ll see examples of the array of activities on offer, enough to make any parent jealous!

For free impartial information from ISCias on all types of independent school, call 0845 SCHOOLS (7246657) or email information@isc.co.uk