Why do schools offer extracurricular activities?

Why do schools offer extracurricular activities?

Phil Avery (Geography Teacher) gives expert video advice on: Why do schools offer extracurricular activities?; Do extracurricular activities continue into the school holidays? and more...

I think extracurricular activities are really important for schools, because they allow them to really push home the five outcomes of "Every Child Matters." This is a development initiative within the schools to really focus what they're doing and what they're giving to the students. The five outcomes are: being healthy, staying safe, enjoying and achieving, making a positive contribution, and achieving economic wellbeing. Extracurricular activities are crucial and vital to fullfilling those aims. So, for example, in terms of being healthy, physical activity and the sports clubs that are run are an ideal way for schools to push home that aim. So, really the values that underpin the extracurricular activities are these five outcomes of "Every Child Matters."