insideKENT Magazine Issue 101 - September 2020 | Page 103

IN ASSOCIATION WITH
BROADENING HORIZONS:
THE BENEFITS OF CO-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
FROM MUSIC-MAKING TO ART, COUNTY SPORTS SKILLS TO STEM, EXTRA-CURRICULAR
ACTIVITIES PROVIDE A WHOLE HOST OF EXCITING OPPORTUNITIES AND BENEFITS.
So September has finally rolled around, which means
only one thing; children are packing their backpacks,
and heading back to school. Every parent in England
is breathing a secret sigh of relief that the professionals
are back, and that school, as well as those much
loved extra-curricular activities, are back in session.
All summer children have been clamouring to get
back to these programs that allow them to express
their passions; whether they be kicking a ball around
a field or making beautiful melodies in the music
room. If your child isn’t already enrolled in any
after-school programs, now is the time to realise why
they will be a great addition to your little (or big)
one’s school life.
These programs are great places for children to meet
like-minded individuals, and presents them with an
opportunity to make life-long friends. They also
provide children in need of an outlet a place where
they feel comfortable enough to indulge their passions,
and challenge themselves in an environment
where they feel free of judgement. The assistant
head of co-curricular at St Edmund’s School,
Leigh Millard, expressed how her program helps
mould young people into the adults they want to
become: “I have seen in my time, many pupils’
characters transformed through co-curricular
experiences which provides them with a real sense
of purpose and self-worth, and the confidence which
they instil can be remarkable.”
Programs like these also help children who may
struggle in a traditional school environment to
associate academia with something positive. Many
leading schools are recognising this, and their extra
curricular activities are at the very heart of their
mission to educate the next generation of Kent
youngsters. Benenden School, a leading
independent school based in Cranbrook, has more
than 150 varied activities for pupils to choose from,
and are committed to ensuring their co-curricular
program stays a key pillar of their school’s curriculum.
“There are plenty of ways for pupils to try something
new, extend their enthusiasms and develop lifelong
interests. There truly is something for everyone.”
Lastly, it is important to recognise how these activities
enrich children's lives by exposing them to
perspectives and communities they may not otherwise
get involved in. Volunteering can help children
become more mindful of their impact on wider
society, Model UN clubs bring the big, scary world
of global politics into perspective for these young
adults, whilst drama allows kids to escape and
experience life through characters that live very
different lives to themselves. Peter Roberts,
headmaster of The King’s School, Canterbury,
regards extra curricular as an equal to its academic
counterpart; “King’s believes that much of what is
most valuable in education takes place outside the
classroom. The wide-ranging co-curricular
programme has been developed to provide
opportunities for all pupils to discover their passions
and encourage them to develop these talents as best
as possible.”
School doesn’t (and shouldn’t!) have to end with the
ring of the final bell, but with laughter, passion, a
zest for life, and the broadening of horizons.
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