Extra-curricular Opportunities

Sport and physical education plays a vital role in the students’ development and growth. Through timetabled lessons and our extensive extra-curricular programme, we aim to instil in students the value of self-preservation and choosing a lifestyle that is good for both the mind and body. A good cardiovascular system developed from regular exercise promotes excellent blood and oxygen circulation. This means more nutrients circulate throughout the body which includes the brain. This circulation produces longer attention span during classes allowing longer concentration and absorption. Moreover, students who are active in physical activities are more confident with themselves according to most social school studies - probably because of the self-discipline and dedication to excel in a sport that brings out the best in students.

The majority of our sporting activities are centred around the Sir David English Sports Centre. The impressive facilities include an eight badminton court sports hall, a cardio-vascular gymnasium, four floodlit tennis courts and a floodlit 3G rubber crumb astro-turf pitch. The school fields comprise three rugby and three football pitches, a 400m running track and two cricket squares.

The department is staffed by six Physical Education specialists. All are responsible for teaching across the key stages and contribute to the extra-curricular programme that is central to life at the school. Through timetabled lessons we aim to develop students’ competence and confidence to take part in a range of physical activities that become a central part of their lives, both in and out of school. Our high-quality PE curriculum enables all pupils to enjoy and succeed in many kinds of physical activity.

Beyond lessons, students in all key stages have the opportunity to compete against the other Houses in their year in eight different sports. They also have access to an extensive extra-curricular programme including non-curriculum sports. Representation of the school at local, regional and national level is actively encouraged. The school sports calendar culminates with the annual Sports Day at King's Park Athletics Stadium.

You can find out more here and book these courses via BH Live's online portal. Once enrolled on a course, you will receive an email notification to top-up when the next half term block becomes available. Existing course members will be able to re-secure their space in the next block when topping up before the end of the current course. If you have any questions, please contact BH Live or visit the team in the sports centre.

Music is the fabric of our society, and music can shape abilities and character.

Nearly everyone enjoys music, whether by listening to it, singing, or playing an instrument. But despite this almost universal interest, many schools are curtailing their music provision. We believe that this is a mistake, with students in those schools losing not only an enjoyable subject, but a subject that can enrich their lives and education.

Our music department has two large teaching rooms, both equipped with a set of keyboards as well as an array of classroom percussion. In addition to this we have a set of African drums and Samba instruments. The teaching rooms are complemented by eight practice rooms, one of which is a large ensemble room, an ICT room equipped with specialist software and a recording studio. We have a Kawai grand piano and a range of orchestral instruments including double bass and orchestral percussion which can be used in school.

Through timetabled lessons, we aim to provide a broad and balanced curriculum across all Key Stages. There is also a full programme of extra-curricular activities which includes orchestra, concert band, big band, chamber ensembles, rock bands, choir, barbershop group and chamber choir. We have a full programme of concerts each year, including a concert at the end of each term. In addition to this we take students out to perform in the wider community where possible and we regularly attend Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra concerts at the Lighthouse in Poole. Ensemble playing is an important part of learning most instruments, especially orchestral ones. All students are strongly encouraged to join in some of the school music groups when they reach the appropriate standard.

We currently have a team of visiting music teachers who teach the following instruments: violin, viola, double bass, flute, oboe, clarinet, saxophone, bassoon, trumpet/ cornet, French horn, trombone, tuba, euphonium and other brass band instruments, guitar (acoustic and electric), bass guitar, drum kit, orchestra percussion, voice and piano. It may be possible to accommodate other instruments such as cello if there is sufficient demand.

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is the world’s leading achievement award for young people.

It comprises a programme of activities that can be undertaken by anyone aged 14 to 25 at Bronze, Silver and Gold levels. The award is supported and recognised by both business and industry with companies including Tesco, British Gas and Lloyds Banking Group partnering the Award nationally.

Bournemouth School is a licenced centre for the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and runs groups each year. Students are able to participate from Year 9 and the Award can be completed at any time up until they reach age 25.

Participants undertake personal challenges to develop their physical fitness and learn new skills, and undertake some voluntary work. They also participate in a group expedition. 

Further information will be provided at an information evening to which students and their parents will be invited. More information with regard to the DofE in general can be found on the Award's website.

The Combined Cadet Force (CCF) is a tri-service Ministry of Defence-sponsored youth organisation based in schools and colleges throughout the UK.

Its aim is to "provide a disciplined organisation within a school so that pupils may develop powers of leadership by means of training to promote the qualities of responsibility, self-reliance, resourcefulness, endurance and perseverance."

Bournemouth School CCF runs after school each Thursday and has over 300 members, recruited from our school and Bournemouth School for Girls. Our CCF has three sections: Army, Navy and RAF. It is a purely voluntary and highly popular activity; students are able to join their chosen section after Remembrance Sunday in Year 9.

Each section has links with its regular branch of the armed forces and field days, flying days and visits are organised to help develop the cadets' resourcefulness, leadership and self-reliance. During Thursday CCF training the cadets may undertake activities such as fitness training and testing, drill, patrolling, fieldcraft, flying theory, skill at arms, rope work and command tasks. There are also annual camps run in various locations all over the country. These camps can be based on both military skills and adventurous training; they help prepare Cadets for future challenges as well as helping to foster self-discipline, determination and personal integrity. Individual cadets are also able to attend other courses which help to broaden their leadership and communication skills, and life experience.

Annual Highlights

September - December

Adventurous Training, Field day, Remembrance Parade, new recruit intake, various residential training courses.

January - March

Adventurous Training, Ten Tors Training, Annual Inspection Day, Dorset Challenge.

April - August

Ten Tors Expedition, CCF Central Camp, RAF Section Camp, National Radio Network Competition, Adventurous Training.

Sea Scouts and Explorer Scouts - Royal Navy Affiliated Unit No. 47

Our School Scout group is a popular out-of-school activity enjoyed primarily by boys from the school and their siblings.

The Group meets on Friday evenings at our boating site on the Iford River near Tuckton Bridge. Throughout the year we have camps and expeditions to places such as Dartmoor, The New Forest, Quantocks and Cirencester. We partake in International events and have been to Iceland, America, Canada, Europe and Africa either as a Group or as part of an International Jamboree contingent. Locally, we are key participants in town and county Scouting events that include overnight activities, Remembrance Day service and St. George’s Day parade.

As we are Sea Scouts we also have a highly successful boating programme that includes pulling, kayaking, sailing and power boating. Our Group operates very much in a traditional way and many of our older Explorer Scouts help our younger members by passing on the skills they learnt in the Scout Troop. Explorer Scouts are also encouraged to participate in the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme.

We are one of only 101 Royal Navy Recognised Sea Scout Groups and have an inspection by a Royal Navy Flag Officer every 18 months. High standards of uniform, training and attendance are expected. The benefits of the Royal Navy scheme allow the Group access to military sites, visits to naval warships and entry to national swimming galas, camps and football matches. These are organised by the Royal Navy units where our young people have opportunity to experience life as a naval rating by living on board a warship.

Many of our Scouts have gone on to become leading pillars in the community, including a Royal Navy Commander and a Police Commissioner. The depth and variety of activities that Scouting provides often opens up new horizons to our young people and ignites a spark of enthusiasm towards them.

Being a voluntarily lead organisation, we are always on the look out for new leaders and helpers who can spare a few hours to help provide the diverse range of activities that keep our young people actively involved. The hours you can give are multiplied tenfold by the enjoyment the youngsters get from their Scouting.

General

Visits/activities within the ‘Local Learning Area’, that are part of the normal curriculum and take place during the normal school day, will follow these operating procedures.

Local Learning Area visits/activities

• are recorded on our school trip management system,
• do not require specified parental consent in addition to completion and return of the consent form (at the end of this document),
• do notify parents, in writing, and in advance of any off-site visit,
• do not normally need additional risk assessments/notes.

Boundaries

The agreed boundary has been set to a 1.5-mile radius from Bournemouth School. Our Local Learning Area includes, but is not limited to, the following frequently used venues:

• Bournemouth School for Girls
• Epiphany School
• Jewell Academy
• Muscliff Primary School

Areas within the Boundaries

Due to the school’s location, any visits accessing water (river, sea etc) or adventurous activity within the local learning area will require a separate risk assessment.

Operating Procedure for Local Learning Area (for routine activities)

The following are potentially significant issues/hazards within our Local Learning Area:

• Road traffic
• Members of the public
• Animals (domestic and farm)
• Losing a student
• Uneven surfaces and slips, trips, and falls
• Weather conditions
• Activity specific issues when doing fieldwork (nettles, brambles, rubbish, etc)

These are managed by a combination of the following:

• A member of the senior leadership team is required to approve all visits
• Only staff who have completed the specified trip leader training are judged competent to supervise groups off-site
• Parents will be notified in advance in writing of any off-site local area visits
• There will normally be a minimum of two adults (this will be dependent on number of, and age of, students attending)
• Staff are familiar with the area, and have practiced appropriate group management techniques
• Students are instructed on safe techniques for road crossings in a group
• Where appropriate, students are fully briefed on what to do if they become separated from the group
• Students’ clothing and footwear is checked for appropriateness prior to leaving school
• Staff are aware of any relevant student medical information and ensure that any required medication is available
• Staff will record the activity on our school trip management system
• A mobile phone is taken with each group and the school office have the number recorded
• A first aid kit is taken with each group
• Appropriate personal protective equipment is taken when needed (e.g. gloves, facemasks, bag for waste, tissues etc.)
• All road crossings will be by use of specific safe crossings on route (e.g. pelican/zebra crossings)
• Where indirect supervision takes place at the authorised destination, the meeting point will be confirmed beforehand - there will always be a member of staff at the meeting point at all times
• Students are informed that they are not permitted to make any purchases whilst off the school site.

Boundary Map