Enrichment opportunities are a strong feature of the school. We offer students an extensive selection of activities beyond the curriculum, taking place at lunchtimes, after school, at weekends and, in the case of some residential visits, some of the school holidays.
Enrichment opportunities during and after the school day
Students in Years 7-11 remain on site throughout the day, and therefore our lunchtimes are particularly active. Many of our Clubs and Sports practices take place at this time. All students are encouraged to maximise their effective use of time, and participate in a broad spread of interests. Opportunities include:-
- Art Club
- Drama Club
- A wide range of bands, orchestras and choirs
- French penpals in KS3, KS4 and KS5 French and German penpals in KS4 and KS5 German and project work with penpals in KS3
- Geography Club
- History Club
- Homework Club
- A wide range of Sports Clubs
- UK Maths Challenge
Educational Visits
We run a number of regular educational visits both in the UK and abroad, for example:
- Year 7 – Flamborough Head (Geography)
- Year 7 – Whole Year Residential
- Year 8 – Skiing to Italy (PE)
- Year 8 – Chocolate Story (Art)
- Year 8 – German Markets (MFL)
- Year 9 – Watersports to France (PE)
- Year 10 – Cote d’Opale, France (MFL)
- Year 10 – Skiing to North America (PE)
- Year 10 – Flamingo Land (Business Studies)
- Year 10 – Battlefields (History)
- Year 10-13 – Rome (RE)
- Year 10/11 – Edinburgh (Art)
- Year 11 – Iceland (Geography)
- Year 12 – Lessons from Auschwitz
- Year 12 and 13 – Theatre Visits
- Year 12 and 13 – Curriculum development seminars and conferences
- Year 12 and 13 – Fieldwork Trips and subject specific visits
Sport
Our sports facilities are of high quality and constantly improving.
In addition to gymnasiums, we make full use of numerous Hockey, Football and Rugby Pitches, seven Tennis Courts, a Cricket Square, a Hard-Surface Athletics Track and a full-sized Floodlit ‘Astro-turf’ Pitch.
The extensive site and adjoining woodlands also provide opportunities for Cross Country Running and Orienteering. We recognise our good fortune in having so much space, and proudly host many Area and County trials and matches.
It is hardly surprising that Tadcaster Grammar School enjoys a reputation for successful sporting achievements each year. Our students have gained many honours in recent seasons, at District, County and National Championship level. Lewis Cook (Bournemouth FC and England), Charlie Taylor (Burnley FC) and Emma Coates (Lioness U19 Head Coach) are ex-students that have gone on and furthered their careers in the professional game.
For more information please contact Rob Solk (Team Leader: Physical Education) Contact>>
Visual and Performing Arts
Art
We run a regular lunchtime art club where artists are invited to work on coursework or creative projects with the support of our dedicated team of specialist staff.
Our annual Art Exhibition showcases talented students from all year groups and students have the opportunity to exhibit to a wide audience. Students benefit from taking part in visits. In the past, destinations have included Edinburgh, Florence, Madrid and New York.
For more information please contact Art Curriculum Team Leader Emma Lattimore Contact>>
Drama
Drama is a great way for students to express themselves, to build confidence and to have fun together in a collaborative and supportive environment. The Drama Department runs lunchtime clubs for Year 7, Year 8 and Year 9 students which are open to all. Our Drama clubs work towards informal showcase performances at least twice per year. These often feature sketches devised by the students themselves tapping into their creativity. In addition, the Department stages larger-scale productions from time to time, most recently a promenade performance of Alice in Wonderland using different locations around the school. The school has also participated in national events such as the Shakespeare Schools Festival.
We run regular visits to the Theatre both locally and further afield. Recent theatre visits include: The Woman in Black, Noughts and Crosses, Blood Brothers and the RSC’s Romeo and Juliet which also involved a practical workshop led by members of the Company.
For more information please contact Drama Curriculum Team Leader Claire Duckworth Contact>>
Music
We are proud of our strong traditions in the Music Department and aim to support open access groups for students who are just beginning or playing for fun, as well as stretching our most able musicians. We offer a variety of musical ensembles including Concert Band, Big Band, Chamber Choir, Pop Choir, Saxophone ensemble and Jam club which sees more than 10 student led pop/rock bands rehearsing weekly. All ensembles are given several performance opportunities throughout the year both in school and in the Tadcaster, York and Leeds area. We also offer a lunchtime theory club for those students wishing to study towards and take the ABRSM theory exams to support their practical studies.
We run regular theatre and residential visits for our singers and musicians. Recent experiences include; choir residential to York Racecourse, London Residential West End experience, theatre visit to see Annie at the Sheffield Lyceum.
For more information please contact Music Curriculum Team Leader Samantha Buckley Contact>>
The Art, Drama and Music departments collaborate to stage regular full scale musicals. Recent productions include: Annie Jr, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Little Shop of Horrors, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, Guys and Dolls and Zombie Prom. We encourage students to get involved in all aspects of production from acting and singing to playing in the band, stage management, choreography and sound and lighting.
