The Aims Of Extracurricular Activities

Why do schools offer extracurricular activities?

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."

What are the advantages of having extracurricular activities in schools?

The advantages of extracurricular activities for the students are gains in motivation, independence and a real sense of enjoyment and fun. Unlike in classes, every student that does these extracurricular activities has chosen to be there: they're not compulsory, they're absolutely voluntary. So, the students get a chance to really work with people who want to be there, who are motivated, who are inspired by what they're doing and it gives them those social and team-working skills. The other benefit of extracurricular activities is for the teachers. They have a chance to see the students in a light outside of the classroom and that goes for the other way around as well: students see teachers not as just that person in front of the whiteboard and that can really have positive impact back in the classroom.

Who plans extracurricular activities?

Extracurricular activities are mainly planned by the teachers and the sixth formers that run them. There is, however, also a degree of involvment by the students themselves. These are voluntary activities that are run by the students for the students, and their impact and imput in what happens is crucial in achieving the aims they set out to achieve. So yes, they want to play basketball for example, but they also want to be involved in deciding what coaching skills they want to use, what practice they want to do, and which games they want to compete in. They're not only gaining basketball skills, but a wide variety of other social organizational skills.

Should they affect your choice of school?

I'm not sure it should be your primary concern in choosing a school, however, I think it's certainly something that you should ask about in the Open Day. There are two key areas to ask about. First is the range of activities that are offered. In this school (Oxted), we have everything from equestriansim to a Year Eight camp that goes out, where we take the Year Eights and we have them camping out in Ashdown Forest for an entire week. That that range of activities is unusual for a large state school such as ourselves. So, first you ask about the range, and also ask about or try to get a feel for the enthusiasm that the staff put into it. How often are those clubs running? What else do the staff do outside of school that might show that they are just bringing their outside interests into school? For example, here, we have everything from a national swimmer through to an Antarctic scientist. So, if you look at the interests of the staff and the range together, you will get a good indication of whether that school is good at promoting a well-rounded student, not just an academic student.

Should extracurricular activities become part of the school day?

Extracurricular activities are a part of the school day, in so much that they run at lunchtime and they run after school, in the main part of the day. There are other extracurricular activities that happen on the weekends and in the holidays, but most are set around the school day. Extracurricular activities shouldn't be compulsory within the school day. The moment we take away the voluntary aspect of extracurricular activities, as soon as we're forcing students to partake, these activities are no longer extracurricular in the true sense of the word. They become something that the students are made to do, therefore the students won't benefit from the same social skills, organizational skills and motivational skills.

Do extracurricular activities continue into the school holidays?

Extracurricular activities do happen in the school holidays. This Easter, Oxted school is taking 94 students to Stow in America on a ski trip, and then during next term there is a Duke of Edinbrough walk going out of at half-term. So, extracurricular activities are definitely part of the holidays as well. From the staff point of view, holidays are a great time to do training. I'm responsible for the Duke of Edinbrough ski, and I spent a weekend a little while ago on a First Aid course. I'm also spending the next half-term doing a mountain skiing course to get up the skills I need to be able to run the course (D of E).

Do extracurricular activities and childcare overlap?

Extra curricular activities and childcare overlap in so much as the child is likely to be in the school longer, both after school, at weekends and possibly the holidays if they're taking part in a range of activities. However, I don't think the primary role of extra curricular activities is childcare. The primary aim is for learning outside of the classroom, in terms of skills, motivation and inspiration.