Senior School 11-16

Sport is an extremely important and popular part of school life. We encourage everyone to participate and enjoy sporting activities, whether for competition, fitness, health or purely for fun and recreation. Inclusivity is at the heart of all sporting opportunities at THS. The pursuit of excellence sits comfortably alongside a broad and well balanced ‘sport for all’ programme.  

Our teams achieve consistent success and benefit from specialist coaching, impressive and extensive facilities and a philosophy emphasising how important it is for students to feel recognised and valued in a school. Success in sport can have a tremendous impact on a young individual’s confidence and self-esteem.  

The curriculum is broad for all students. We provide a host of extra-curricular sporting activities, which are varied and varied and designed to give our learners skills and activities to enjoy into adulthood.  

At GCSE, PE is a popular subject at THS, with students building teamwork, leadership, and interpersonal skills as they progress through the course.  

Students at Thorpe Hall School are passionate about music, and we create numerous opportunities for participation and performance for musicians of all levels of ability.  

A lively programme of events includes informal and formal concerts at school, instrumental support lessons, and an extended extra-curricular choice of musical clubs and activities.  

All students enjoy weekly music lessons as part of the Year 7-9 curriculum, instrumental lessons in our many dedicated practice rooms, and larger ensembles enjoy the use of our purpose-built performance venues.  

GCSE Music will show employers a wide range of interests and skills, as well as demonstrating a dedication and commitment to learning a musical instrument and to studying music. GCSE Music can also help with confidence and performance skills needed in situations such as job interviews. 

At almost every point throughout the school year, rehearsals are underway for the next highly anticipated dramatic production. These productions foster a great sense of teamwork and require commitment and enthusiasm from students, whether they are taking a leading role on stage or contributing their skills as part of the technical crew.  

Both Drama and Dance are powerful and expressive subjects that encourage students to develop their creative, physical, emotional and intellectual capacity, whatever their previous experience. 

All students in Years 7 to 9 enjoy a weekly Drama lesson as part of the curriculum. Public speaking lessons, training and competitions have also been introduced to further enhance essential skills like debating and presenting.

School trips play a crucial role in our curriculum and help to bring classroom-based learning to life. All subjects offer trips as part of the syllabus ranging from day trips to the coast or local area to multi-week expeditions across the globe.  

Trips and activities are designed to spark interest and relate back to key topics, as well as broaden horizons and raise aspirations.  Amongst other things, we have cracked codes with the Army Intelligence Corps, experienced a practical workshop at the Royal College of Surgeons, re-enacted a court case at the Royal Courts of Justice, designed buildings at the Royal Institute of Architecture, held a mock election campaign at the Houses of Parliament, edited a newspaper at The Guardian, created masterpieces at the Royal Academy of Art and danced with the West End musical group ‘Stomp’.  

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme has been running since 1956. Its purpose is to broaden the experience of young people by encouraging them to discover the satisfaction of giving service to others, learning a skill, taking part in physical recreation and undertaking an expedition. Ultimately, it aims to teach young people the value of teamwork, service and self-reliance by encouraging them to involve themselves in a wide variety of activities.

Thorpe Hall School offers the Bronze and Silver Duke of Edinburgh Awards. Participation is available to students in Years 9, 10 and 11. We encourage all our senior students to  grasp this excellent opportunity to develop skills for work and life.

‘Discovery Afternoon’ is a time set aside each week in Years 7 to 8, when students can try out a wide range of different activities that they might not otherwise have the opportunity to do. Each Friday afternoon students participate in a variety of non-academic pursuits, which complement the more formal curriculum taught during the rest of the week. Social skills, communication, perseverance and creativity are amongst the competencies students will build through this programme. As well as additional sport, students will have the chance to sample activities they may wish to pursue later in life, professionally or as a hobby.