Sixth Form Extra Curriculum
Summer Ball at Goodwood
The Ball at Goodwood is a fabulous occasion to celebrate the year. The setting is beautiful with views over the racecourse and the South Downs and it’s amazing to see everyone dressed up and having a good time.
Drama
Drama is a thriving and exciting part of life at Churcher’s. In the years between the biennial musical production, a senior play is produced. Plays have included Michael Frayn’s Noises Off, A Streetcar Named Desire and The Rivals in recent years and we have staged musical productions of Barnum and Hot Mikado. Students enjoy the opportunity to become involved from a performance or technical perspective. One of the annual highlights is the House Play Competition in March when the sixth form students have the chance to perform, direct or stage manage. The final performances always result in a lively and entertaining evening.
Community Action Service
CAS is a great way to become involved in the community, have fun in a lively group and make a difference! Students help out at the local junior school and really enjoy the relationships they develop with the children. Other activities, such as visiting the elderly and environmental initiatives such as clearing the Heath, are also hugely worthwhile and rewarding.
Senior Philosophical Society
The Senior Philosophical Society meets twice a term to hear a variety of outside speakers expand aspects of the Ethics and Philosophy course. The emphasis is always to make education enjoyable and enable all to enter into discussion should they so wish. A recent speaker was a psychologist, currently practising psychotherapy, who engaged students in activities and discussion centered on “Why do Murderers Murder?”. A lecture series, given by Oxford University, included Alistair McGrath speaking on Religion and Science and we hope to invite Philip Ball and A.C. Grayling this academic year. These events (preceded by drinks and nibbles!) are happy social occasions with challenging academic rigour. The meetings are open to everyone, (including parents,) and all Oxbridge and Medical applicants are strongly advised to attend. Tuesday lunch club meets informally every week over lunch to extend classroom discussion.
Debating
Standing up in public to make a speech about a controversial issue isn’t easy, but the experience is immensely valuable, helping you to develop confidence, powers of analysis and the ability to “think on your feet”. The society meets once a week at a lunchtime, when there is both tuition in the format and skills of debate, together with opportunities to stage informal “minidebates”. The College also participates in the ESU Mace competition, where our students are matched against teams from some of the most academic schools in the country.
Music
Sixth form musicians are encouraged to take an active role in the musical life of the college. There is a wide range of opportunities offered, intended to cater for all musical tastes and abilities. The college has a full concert wind band, a symphony orchestra, two senior choirs, a brass group and a jazz club. Sixth formers frequently establish and run chamber groups and are given positions of leadership and responsibility in the main college ensembles and in concerts.
Every two years a large-scale musical production takes place, in conjunction with the drama department. Recent productions
have been Hot Mikado, Pal Joey and West Side Story. Other performing opportunities include concerts at local venues, termly
recitals, lunchtime concerts, a house music competition, Christmas carol services, and an annual grand Summer concert. This Autumn, the senior choir will be performing Fauré’s Requiem Mass at St Peter’s Church and a choir and brass ensemble tour of Germany is being planned for August 2009. Individual music tuition is offered on most instruments and voice and sixth form musicians are scheduled their lessons during private study periods, or outside the school daily timetable.
Karate
Karate is about developing the mind and body through strengthening the body, increasing flexibility, improving reactions and increasing the ability to focus. Although it is a form of self-defence, the ultimate opponent is yourself and karate will increase self-confidence and develop your spirit.
Classes are taken in a friendly, relaxed atmosphere by Chris Tompson, an 8th degree black belt instructor who has over 40 years experience and is founder, chairman and chief instructor of the British Traditional Karate Association. Chris is also a Director of the English Karate Federation, the only governing body for England which is recognised by the World Karate Federation and International Olympic Committee. There is a grading system for students to progress through as well as opportunities to attend summer school, the national championships and various weekend training days.
Leadership Day
At the start of the lower sixth year, all students enjoy a one day Teamwork and Leadership course at an off-site activities centre. Using the same programme as several well known British companies, students work through a variety of outdoor tasks in which co-operation and co-ordination are developed. Professional instructors are on hand to offer advice and a chance to reflect on how the experience can inform and enrich life back at College.
Show Jumping & Dressage
Sport
Students can choose from a wide variety of sporting activities, depending on the term. The major team sports for boys are Rugby, Hockey and Cricket; for the girls Netball, Hockey and Rounders. Other activities include Football, Swimming, Basketball, Badminton, Rowing, Table Tennis, Aerobics, Tennis, Golf and Gym. Students who are not required for college teams may pursue their own sport outside college on Wednesday afternoons, for example Weight Training and Horse Riding.
We have an excellent new All Weather Pitch on the College site. Competitive sports are played to a high standard and senior sides tour abroad.
