How to live and breathe the co-curriculum - and the importance of doing so

It’s the end of the official school day. The bell rings, the computer screens turn off and the classroom doors close behind excitable children flooding into the corridors. Yet, do the majority head home? Absolutely not. Why? Because they choose to actively get involved in the extensive co-curricular programme offered at school.

It is a necessity that education prepares children for their future. School needs to offer students an insight into pathways they may wish to take, inspire their curiosity, help them to question the world and create a plethora of skills that will prove beneficial in whatever situation they find themselves in. Lessons are vital and grades are critical, but co-curricular activities are equally integral to providing opportunities to develop our young people into confident, global citizens who understand how to take care of themselves; individuals who are excited to try new things.

Scientific research provides evidence that engaging in a hobby you enjoy relieves stress, increases resilience and generally makes us happier human beings. A happier human being is a more productive human being, and a more productive human being creates better grades and study habits. They learn to manage time effectively and have an accessible way of mitigating life pressures. Co-curricular is therefore an in-direct well-being service - and it doesn’t need to involve anything special or any large pots of gold.

Providing a co-curriculum is individually beneficially, but it also provides the right environment for a community to prosper. Students and teachers step away from the formality of the classroom to embrace teamwork and performance, whether that be learning to sew or hosting a debate. It is an opportunity for teachers to show off their passion other than their subject and get to know the children behind the written work. Numerous times, I have walked past a club and heard noise, laughter and chatter - characteristics that are alien from the usual classroom environment. Put simply, co-curricular has the ability to breathe life and soul into a school environment.

But the question is - how do you get everyone on board?

How do you ask staff to stay later, to perhaps give up a weekend for a camping trip or a fixture? How do you get the children to see that staying later at school is more enjoyable than going home to their phones and television?

You start with a vision that embeds the co-curriculum. It needs to be woven into the heart of the bigger picture. Yes academic excellence and great relationships are paramount to the agenda, but co-curricular provides the bridge between these very important features of an excellent school. This is why I refer to the idea as ‘co-curricular’, instead of ‘extra-curricular’. It shouldn’t be an option; the programme should run alongside the academic schemes of work, and just like SOW, the co-curriculum timetable should be thought through, published and readily available. The message should be reiterated in assemblies, slogans, talks, middle leader meetings - even right down to the SCITTs. Staff must be aware of the enormous benefits co-curricular hobbies bring to our students. In the long-term, an increase in whole-school grades will be evident, less time and energy will be spent on providing mental health support or dealing with pastoral concerns. Co-curricular brings the community together to support both academic rigour and welfare.

Tips and tricks for making co-curricular achievable for a teacher

​Create a club rota between the members of staff, eliminating the need to be present every single week.

​Create a bi-weekly timetable.

​Enrol prefects, ambassadors or Duke of Edinburgh volunteers to run club activities.

​Reach out to other colleagues in other departments.

Give yourself a break on occasion and create activities that require little teacher input.

Create a plan of what to do at each club meeting. This reduces stress and increases the ability to organise effective and engaging activities.

Be positive about what you can also gain from getting involved in a co-curricular programme. It serves as an opportunity for you to develop leadership skills, creativity and positive relationships with students.

What about the students?

Basically, make it a BIG deal. The more they hear it and the more exciting it seems, the more interest you are going to get. To do this, I have suggested some ideas below.

How to encourage the students

​Offer a vast range of clubs by giving autonomy to staff members to explore their own interests and bring them to life for students. Clubs could include gardening, choir, chess, trading cards, design or subject specific clubs.

Make the timetable accessible. Get it stuck into planners, on notice boards, avaialble through online portals and emailed to parents.

Create a rewards system for students who actively attend clubs. This could be house points, stamp collection, certificates or even as simple as sending an email home.

​Get the students involved in promoting the co-curricular life of the school. They could write a blog post, create a podcast, interview peers or present in assemblies.

Use the co-curriculum in daily dialogue. This is particularly helpful during well-being check ins. Utilise it as the tool it is.

Give recognition to the students getting involved in different activities during assemblies.

Create a dedicated co-curricular tutor activity each week, or once a term.

Create a whole school co-curricular afternoon, encouraging teachers to lead an activity and for students to sign up and have a go.

To conclude, for a co-curricular programme to be highly successful you need willing staff. Recognise those that go above and beyond to provide our young people with opportunities that extend outside of the classroom. Show gratitude, reach out to help them, offer additional training and talk to others about what they are doing. Communication is an incredibly powerful tool.