One of the best things about coming to New College Pontefract is the chance to develop your skills and interests alongside your qualifications.
This booklet gives you an idea of some of the enrichments that we offer: clubs and societies, health and wellbeing activities, super-curricular activities to develop what you do in your timetabled lessons, and activities to support careers, life experiences and develop your leadership skills.
Enrichment activities are an important way of making new friends, trying new things and helping you get to where you want to go after sixth form college. It is the combination of your results and wider skills that will get you offers for degrees, apprenticeships and jobs. Universities and employers know that taking part in enrichment activities says a lot about the kind of person you are and the ways in which you have developed while at college.
We have something for everyone and expect all our students to take part in some form of enrichment alongside their timetabled lessons. If there are any activities that you would like to take part in that isn’t listed, speak to a member of college staff or the Senior Leadership Team in September.
Specific information about the start dates of enrichment activities, times and venues will be shared with all students in September during our Freshers Fair.
We look forward to inviting you to the official launch in September!
Most of our enrichment activities will provide you with useful skills and experiences to aid with potential career pathways. Look out for the following throughout this brochure to see which enrichments match up.
COMPUTING & ENGINGEERING
PERFORMING ARTS
HEALTHCARE
MEDICAL
SCIENCE BUSINESS, LAW & FINANCE
SOCIAL SCIENCES
SPORT & SERVICES
EARTH SCIENCES
CREATIVE ARTS & MEDIA
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
LANGUAGE, LITERATURE, CULTURE & EDUCATION
STRESS LESS
STREETWIZE SELFDEFENCE
Aerial arts is growing into an desirable discipline within performing arts. This enrichment introduces the basic principles of aerial hoop with opportunity to explore core skills. No previous experience required.
AERIEL HOOP
JOURNALLING CLUB
Journalling Club - Journalling Club offers a calm, creative space to reflect, unwind and support your wellbeing. Each week you’ll be given thoughtful prompts to inspire your writing, with the opportunity to create and personalise your own journal. No writing experience is needed – it’s simply a chance to get your thoughts onto the page, reduce stress and take time for yourself.
VOCAL HARMONY
WIND ENSEMBLE
Weekly informal rehearsals to work on a wide range of music from theatre, film, pop, light classical etc, suitable for brass and woodwind players. Bass guitarists and drummers also welcome! Performance opportunities throughout the year.
CHESS CLUB
Join our Chess Club and sharpen your mind while having fun! It’s a great place to meet new people, learn smart strategies, and challenge yourself. Whether you’re new to the game or already skilled, you’ll boost critical thinking, focus, and confidence. Enjoy a relaxed, friendly atmosphere where you can develop your abilities at your own pace. Bring your lunch!
KNITTING AND CROCHET CLUB
Whether you're already competent at your craft, or a beginner wanting to learn, come along to Knitting and Crochet club!
Sessions are run very informally - bring along a current project to work on, chat with friends, or watch instructional videos with the help of others in the group.
Step into a world of imagination, teamwork, and adventure! Dungeons & Dragons is a tabletop role-playing game where you create your own character and join others on epic quests. Guided by a storyteller called the Dungeon Master, you’ll solve puzzles, battle monsters, and shape your own story—all while building creativity, confidence, and collaboration skills.
NEW COLLEGE VARSITY
New College Varsity takes place just before Easter each year. This all day competition sees New College Pontefract, New College Doncaster and New College Bradford battle it out across a range of team sports to be crowned Varisty Champions. Training for these teams begins from January.
FILM MAKING AND SCREENWRITING CLUB
Calling all creatives! Ever fancied making or writing your own short film? Come along to our Filmmaking and Screenwriting Club - no experience necessary.
BOARD GAMES CLUB
Step away from screens and into the world of strategy, teamwork, and friendly competition! Our Board Games enrichment offers a chance to explore a wide range of games, from fast-paced classics like Herd Mentality to challenging strategy favourites like Monopoly. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned player, you'll develop problemsolving skills, communication, and confidence while having lots of fun. Come along, meet new people, and discover your next favourite game!
Using analogue techniques to compose a digital animation. The first term will focus on using cyanotype.
THE UNITY LUNCH ROOM
A friendly space where students can come for lunch, relax, and spend time with others in a calm, welcoming environment. It could be a place for quiet time, light games, or simply somewhere students can feel a sense of belonging.
ECONOMICS SOCIETY
The Economics Society is a student-led organisation open to all Year 12 and Year 13 students with an interest in economics, business, politics, and current affairs. Through discussions, debates, guest speakers, competitions, and exploration of real-world economic issues, members have the opportunity to develop their understanding beyond the classroom curriculum. Whether you are considering studying economics at university, preparing for interviews and admissions tests, or simply curious about how economic ideas shape the world around us, the society provides a welcoming environment to learn, share ideas, and engage with topical issues. No prior experience is required—just an enthusiasm for thinking critically about the challenges facing individuals, businesses, and governments today.
FOOTBALL MANAGER
The Football Manager enrichment is a space to discuss your saves, the best wonderkids to sign and discuss the tactics you use to lead you team to glory or just a space to get away and the play the game!
FROM PAGE TO SCREEN
Discover how books become films and TV series. Read the original text, watch the adaptation, and discuss the decisions made by writers, directors and producers.
STAR WARS CLUB
Join the Star Wars Club — Where the Force Comes Alive! Dive into epic films, series, and documentaries, then clash in legendary Dark Side vs Light Side debates. Whether you’re a Jedi, Sith, or somewhere in between… your journey starts here.
CHRISTIAN CLUB
During this club we seek to build our faith through bible discussion, controversial topics on things that are not talked about, other struggles we all may be going through so we can all walk our walk with reverence to God. Come join us for you to grow in knowledge and in spirit with your relationship with God
UKMT SENIOR MATHS CHALLENGE
Promoting a love of problem-solving! Preparation for the individual competition in October aiming for a Bronze, Silver or Gold certificate (perhaps gaining entry into the follow-up Senior Kangaroo round).
ACHIEVING ASPIRATIONS PROGRAMME
LEGAL DEBATE CLUB
This enrichment is for anyone who has a keen interest in debating controversial topics - you do not have to be currently studying Law. Topics include: Assisted Dying, Terrorism Laws, Police Powers. This enrichment will help you develop skills such teamwork, organisation, confidence in oracy skills as well as critical analysis.
GEOGRAPHY BOOK AND ARTICLE CLUB
Want to go beyond the textbook and explore how geography shapes the world around you?
Join our Geography Book & Article Club – a relaxed, informal session where we explore short, thought provoking extracts linked to real world issues such as climate change, urban change, globalisation and hazards. Each week, we’ll look at a short article or extract (no heavy reading!), discuss the key ideas, and link them directly to topics from your A‑level course. It’s a great way to build wider knowledge, improve your synoptic understanding, and develop ideas you can use in exams, NEA, and even personal statements.
• No preparation needed
• Short, manageable reading
• Real world geography
• Useful for exams + UCAS
KILLER CULTS: SOCIOLOGY, CRIME AND THE PSYCHOLOGICAL BELIEF
ARTS ENRICHMENT
Push your artistic and creative skills further by attending this small group enrichment. Share ideas and develop your technique alongside other students. You will receive bespoke advice and technical support to produce new and exciting work to add to your current projects. This enrichment is for students studying Visual Arts subjects.
CAMBRIDGE CHEMISTRY CHALLENGE
NEA RESEARCH HUB
Drop in for extra help with your English NEA and independent research. Academic support for every part of your NEA.
OBJECTION! LAW ON FILM
This is an advanced chemistry competition aimed at Yr 13. Designed to challenge your A level knowledge
STUDY CLUB
YOUNG
You will work as part of a team to solve a mystery. You will need to complete three practicals, analyse the results and submit your responses to see if you make it to the national final.
PHARMACOLOGY CLUB
How does Big Pharma design life-saving drugs in months instead of decades? The truth is, 90% of modern drug discovery starts behind a screen, not in a test tube. With AI on the rise, it’s overhauling STEM subjects from top to bottom. If you want to study Medicine, Biochemistry, or Medicinal Chemistry, knowing how pharmecituals work is a great boost to your expertise. But actually having the skills yourself sets you leagues ahead. Don't just memorise textbooks. Architect it. That is exactly what this club provides. You will: • Do drug design right behind a computer. • Use industry-standard algorithms to predict potency and side effects. • Design potential treatments for real-world diseases.
Y13 OXBRIDGE INTERVIEW PREP FOR MEDICINE, VET MED AND BIOLOGY RELATED COURSES
Y13 Biology. Oxbridge interview prep for Biology related courses. Suitable for degrees related to Biology including Medicine and VetMed.
DUKE OF EDINBURGH GOLD
Why Do Gold?
• Boost your CV – 79% of employers say DofE makes young people more employable
• Gain essential life skills – teamwork, resilience, leadership, and communication
• Stand out for uni & apprenticeships – admissions tutors love to see it
• Build friendships and confidence through shared challenge and adventure
• Achieve something truly prestigious – your Gold Award is presented at a Royal Palace!
• Direct Gold entry – no prior experience needed
Costs & Sign-Up
• Total: £270 per person – payable in instalments
• £35 registration fee due at Induction Day (non-refundable to secure your place)
• After paying the fee, watch for emails early in the year with meeting times & details
MY ACTIVITY PASSPORT
Students can learn life skills, that will help them both professionally and personally. This can be financial sustainability, resilience, self care, learn first aid and much more.
GET EXPERIENCE IN EDUCATION AND EARLY YEARS
What the sessions will involve: This enrichment is designed for students interested in gaining experience in Education and Early Years settings. You will learn how to prepare for work placements by developing professional skills, understanding employer expectations, and building confidence when working with children and young people. The sessions will also support you through the DBS application process (if applicable), help you identify suitable placement opportunities, and guide you in securing a placement that matches your interests and career goals. This is an excellent opportunity to gain valuable experience and enhance your progression into further study, or employment within the sector.
GETTING INTERVIEW
READY- NHS VALUES
INTERNATIONAL EXPEDITIONS
You can have the opportunity to take part in an international student expedition programme to develop your life skills, confidence and global awareness. These expeditions give you the opportunity to travel abroad, often to developing countries where you will take part in: Adventure Trekking (hiking through mountains or jungles) Cultural Immersion (living and working with local communities) Community Projects (supporting schools, conversation or sustainability) Students are responsible for managing their budgets, transport and planning during the trip, improving your decision making an problem solving skills. Trips usually last between 1-3 weeks, accompanies by college staff and experience expedition leaders.
PART-TIME JOB SUPPORT CLUB
Looking for a part-time job or want to build up your experience? Our Part-Time Job Support Club is here to help! In these relaxed weekly sessions, you’ll get support with writing a CV, filling out applications, and getting ready for interviews so you feel confident going for roles. The club is led by you, so sessions can be shaped around what you need most, and you’ll get support in whatever way works best for you.
PHYSIOTHERAPY AND REHABILITATION
This enrichment will look at diagnostic tests for common injuries and rehabilitation exercises and techniques performed by NHS and sports physiotherapists. This enrichment is designed for students who are considering a career in Physiotherapy.
STUDENT EXEC
The Student Exec is a dedicated team of 7 Year 13 students, elected by the student body to represent you. They play a key role in shaping college life by organising events, championing student ideas, and driving positive change across the college. But you don’t have to be elected to make a difference. All students are welcome to attend regular Student Exec meetings—giving you the chance to share your ideas, influence decisions, and get directly involved in improving the college experience for everyone. Whether you want to see new events, suggest changes, or simply have your voice heard, the Student Exec is your opportunity to be part of something bigger. Get involved. Be heard. Help shape your college.
STUDENTS FOR SUSTAINABILITY
DRAGONS DEN - CAN YOU BEAT THE DRAGONS?
CYBER EPQ - EXTENDED PROJECT QUALIFICATION
This is a Cyber Security Extended Project Qualification that can be run in one or two years and it involved completing modules/tutorials based on Cyber Security (via an online portal), with the aim to guide students towards a preferred topic to investigate for the project.
