Issuu

Beyond the Curriculum 2026/27

Co-Curricular at St Peter’s Life is full and rich at St Peter’s and there is so much that goes on beyond the classroom curriculum. So much indeed that the full richness of St Peter’s life is difficult to capture in one place. But I hope the information below helps parents and pupils, both prospective and current, to see what is available here.

Many of the things below are clubs in the traditional sense – they can be signed up to, and they take place each week. These cover the full dimensions of activities, and we encourage all our pupils to be involved where they can be.

But we thought it helpful to give a list of the many ad-hoc events, opportunities and drop-in activities as well. These tend not to appear in any timetable or sign-up list, but they are an integral part of the overall experience beyond the curriculum, enriching the experience of our pupils.

Contents Sport and Physical Activity

Page 4

Performing Arts & Media

Page 14

Academic & Enrichment

Page 21

Clubs, Service & Activities

Page 32

Trips and Visits

Page 39

Sport & Physical Activity Badminton The emphasis in Badminton is on playing. Pupils can sign up for single sessions or choose multiple sessions as available through the week to different year groups. It runs as part of the main games programme for older pupils as well as a club option for younger pupils.

Basketball Basketball is a popular option for many of our pupils and runs as an after school club. The emphasis is on playing and enjoyment of the game. It is available to Years 8 and above at different points in the week, which can vary by term.

Body Conditioning “Bodycon” as we have called it for years is a high energy fitness class that combines resistance training, bodyweight exercises and cardio to improve overall physical fitness. It runs twice a week for pupils in Year 11 and above on Wednesday and Saturday afternoon.

Cricket Cricket runs as one of our two summer field sports offer. The boys programme is very well established and we run three teams at Senior level and both A and B teams at Year 10 and below. Girls cricket continues to develop and grow and we run one team at Senior level but now can field two teams at lower age groups. Our Senior teams train/play 4 times per week, with Year 10 and below three times a week as part of their Curriculum Games. In the Christmas term, we start our winter nets programme after the October half term. This runs several mornings per week, with additional indoor nets sessions after-school also added into the Easter term programme.

Fencing Fencing runs as a club for younger pupils during the week and as part of the Year 9 and above games programme on Saturday afternoon. A lot of the focus is on training and perfecting the skills which we are hoping to build into some school competitions in due course.

Gym

The gym is available for use in our Senior Games programme (Year 11 and above) on Wednesday and Saturday afternoons. Limited slots are also available on Friday after lessons. Pupils are encouraged to follow a programme that meets their fitness goals and they have the support of a dedicated S&C coach to guide them as needed. Lunchtime drop-in sessions are also available for pupils in Years 9 and above.

Hockey Hockey runs as the main team field game option for Girls in the Christmas term and Boys in the Easter term. As with all our team sports, we seek to provide excellence at the top end, while ensuring all who want to play can do so. At Senior level, we run 3rd and 4th team fixtures, while at junior level we run at least to B team level. The quality of the offer is the same for both boys and girls. Seniors train/play 4 times per week. Those in Year 10 and below train/play three times per week. There has been lots of success in both boys and girls Hockey in recent years, locally, regionally and nationally across the different age ranges.

Netball Netball runs as the main field game option for Girls in the Easter term, however we run a dedicated 1st team squad in the Christmas term as well. At Senior level, it is a very popular option and we run up to 5 teams as well as having our own intra-mural competition on site. At Year 10 and below we tend to run two or three teams in each year group with regular fixtures through the term. We have had lots of success at all levels in recent years from National competitions at Senior level, to regularly winning local and regional competitions at Junior levels.

Martial Arts Pupils try a range of different traditional and sporty martial arts. Some impact moves are tested out on focus pads. Practical self defence moves are practiced on the available Judo mats, for safety. Sessions are run by Mr Parr who is himself a 4th Dan Black Belt in Taekwondo and a qualified instructor.

Rowing Rowing is one of our key sport offers at St. Peter’s and we are very fortunate in our location to be able to provide this sport. It runs as a year-round option in both our boys and girls programme, though it is possible to pursue a different team sport on a termly basis. For senior pupils, there are two pathways with differing levels of commitment. Our group one rowers train/row 4 teams a week in Games sessions but do additional training in mornings and after school as needed. Group two rowers commit to the main games sessions (4 times per week). Both groups compete in regattas across the year at levels that suit them. For junior rowers, there is training three times a week during curriculum games with the option for Year 10 pupils to do some extras if they wish. Year 8 have the option of Indoor rowing during the early terms, before moving onto the water in the summer term.

Rugby Union Rugby is one of our most popular Sports. In the Christmas term it is the main field game option for boys. We pride ourselves on the provision of a programme of excellence at the very top end, while ensuring we provide competitive fixtures at all levels. Our Senior Boys Rugby regularly run 3 teams and we are able to raise teams to B , and sometimes C, level at Years 11 and below. Our Senior Boys teams train/play 4 times a week as do the U16 teams. At U15 level and below there are three sessions per week including fixtures. All pupils are welcome to take up rugby at any stage and it is a real source of pride to us that pupils who join the school in later years take up the game. Our girls rugby programme is now established. At present it runs as a club option each week in addition to the main team sport for girls.

Reformer Pilates Reformer Pilates is a dynamic, low-impact workout performed on a specialized machine called a "reformer". It features a sliding carriage, adjustable springs for resistance, and straps. It builds core strength, improves flexibility, and enhances full-body muscle tone without putting stress on your joints. This option is open to pupils in L6th and U6th on a Saturday as part of the main games programme.

Running Running operates at several points during the week within our Senior main games programme as well as a club for younger pupils. Some of our strongest runners take part in the York and District School Cross country, but mainly this club is for those who enjoy distance running.

Squash Squash is a popular option available in our Senior main games programme and as a club for Years 10 and below. Our top squash players play in some fixtures, local leagues and national competitions. For others, learning the sport and playing games is the key focus. Any pupil can sign up at any point so long as space is available.

Swimming Swimming is available both recreationally and to our team swimmers who wish to practice during their games periods. It is possible to be a team swimmer and choose from other elements of our games programme. We have had lots of success in swimming in recent years at local, regional and national level so it is a sport where all can pursue things at a level suitable to them.

Table Tennis The table tennis club is open to pupils in Years 7 to 9. It runs on a lunchtime once a week , giving pupils an opportunity to play and have fun.

Tennis Tennis is a very popular Sport in both our boys and girls programme. For our dedicated senior tennis players it runs as an option in the main games programme through the year. In the summer term team tennis players train/play 4 times a week, with those seeking just to enjoy the game having the opportunity to play as part of regular games sessions on Wednesday and Saturday. At Year 10 and below, Tennis is a choice in the summer term curriculum games programmes where pupils will train/play three times a week.

Volleyball Volleyball is a popular option for many of our pupils and runs as an after school club. The emphasis is on playing and enjoyment of the game. It is available to Years 8 and above at different points in the week, which can vary by term.

Yoga This takes place at a local Yoga studio and is led by qualified instructors. For those who have not tried it before, Yoga is a mind and body activity that combines movement, mediation and breathing. It runs twice a week for pupils in Year 11 and above on Wednesday and Saturday afternoon.

Performing Arts & Media Covers and Conversations Pupils in Years 10 to Upper Sixth are invited to join Covers & Conversation. It is a relaxed and casual club for students to read for fun and wellbeing, to share opinions and recommendations and to get creative with their responses to literature. Pupils will have the opportunity to take on leadership roles and get involved with the "Book Nook" club for younger year groups. The club takes place once a week in the Library.

Creative Writing Pupils in Year 7, 8 and 9 with an interest in creative writing are invited to meet weekly in this creative club which will run during a lunchtime. Pupils will be given prompts and ideas to spark their creativity and during the course of the year they will write poems, short stories, descriptions, and can even plan their own novels. Pupils will be invited to share their work with their peers and will have the opportunity to enter writing competitions- both within school and national writing awards.

LAMDA Group Examination Star Theatre’s LAMDA programme provides students with the opportunity to work towards internationally recognised LAMDA qualifications in a supportive group setting. Working in groups of three or more, students will develop their communication, performance, and presentation skills through structured lessons, culminating in a certified LAMDA examination that celebrates their progress and achievement.

Drama Our Drama provision as part of our co-curricular programme is built around productions and festivals. Things vary term-to term, but with each year group having opportunities at different points through the year. In terms of productions, we have the Main School Production (Year 11 and above for most parts), the L6th play and the “Lower School Play” (Years 7 and 8). Years 9 to 10 can take part in the Shakespeare Schools Festival in the Christmas term.

Dance Festival Club A weekly practical dance session where you work towards a performance at York Theatre Royal on Tuesday 17th November. You will be in the theatre all day on the 17th as you prepare for your performance on the main stage in the evening. You will also be offered workshops with different dance practitioners.

Media Circle The Media Circle club is for pupils who want to watch the latest cinematic releases, take part in trips to watch and critique some of the finest arts and cultural experiences that York has to offer, and ultimately create articles that will be shared, published and celebrated across the wider school. The club meets once a week after school, often with film showings and local visits taking place at this time.

Music Music activities operate at all points during the week, with many of these being options pupils are invited to, or asked to, attend due to the skill level required. They are a part of our overall Music provision. The timetable of these activities is in the attachment, and these tend to stay fixed during the course of an academic year. As pupils/parents cannot sign up for Music groups, there isn’t a description of each activity. The range of Music is however extensive with further details available from the department.

Podcasting The Podcasting club explores how to create engaging audio and video content for real audiences. Pupils learn to plan, record, edit, and publish podcasts while developing skills in interviewing, scripting, filming, and production. Members collaborate on projects, taking ideas from initial concepts through to polished episodes. The club is open to all pupils, with no prior experience required.

Year 7–8 Drama Club Our Year 7–8 Drama Club is designed to develop the core skills required for confident and effective performance. Through engaging workshops, improvisation, script work, character development, and ensemble activities, students will build creativity, confidence, collaboration, and stagecraft in a fun and supportive environment.

Year 7–8 Screen Acting This exciting course introduces students to the unique techniques required for performing on camera. Exploring the differences between stage and screen performance, students will learn about naturalistic acting, camera awareness, continuity, self-taping techniques, and how subtle choices can create powerful performances for film and television.

Year 7–8 Theatre Our Year 7–8 Theatre programme brings together the three core disciplines of musical theatre—acting, singing, and dance—to create exciting and fully realised performance pieces. Students will develop their skills across all areas while working collaboratively to rehearse and stage complete musical theatre numbers, building confidence, versatility, and a strong understanding of professional performance practice.

Year 7/8 Production Working with Ms Veasey, you will explore, cast and create a performance of a full play. This will be performed early in 2027 at York Theatre Royal Studio theatre.

Academic & Enrichment Art Club A scheduled Art club, that pupils can sign-up for, runs for pupils in Years 7, 8 and 9. There are two sessions per week and pupils can sign up for one or both. The club provides a wonderful opportunity to work on projects and the theme for a particular term is often decided by the pupils themselves. For pupils in GCSE and A level years there are lots of drop-in sessions during the week where pupils can work on and develop their coursework and portfolios. This provides considerable additional support beyond taught classes and chance for pupils to develop their work.

Book Nook (Year 7-9 Book Club) The Book Nook is a club for pupils in Years 7, 8 and 9 who enjoy reading in all formats to meet together and exchange opinions and recommendations. Pupils will take part in the York Book Award, having their say from the shortlisting stage all the way to the final vote, and will attend the award ceremony in the Easter term. They will discuss the books and are encouraged to respond creatively and write reviews. The club takes place once a week in the Library.

Culture Club Culture Club aims to develop visual literacy as its primary goal. Alongside this, oracy and literacy opportunities will be offered in the form of competitions. The club will have a social media presence and promote opportunities to pupils to explore visual culture, film, architecture and design. All activities are designed to feed into UCAS, as well as supporting Art, DT, History of Art and Classics courses. The club hopes to raise the profile of the school, especially through competitions.

Current Affairs Discussion This club is open to all pupils who have an interest in following the news. The club meets weekly and pupils bring stories of interest to be discussed, where we explore the differing perspectives and views and try to gain a deeper understanding of the issues. Pupils of all ages are welcome – the only prerequisites being an engagement in the news and a willingness to listen and discuss.

Chess Club and Coaching The Chess club meets once a week at lunchtime, primarily to play. It is open to pupils in all year groups. Pupils in Years 7 to 9 interested in developing their Chess Game play have the opportunity to attend Chess Coaching. This is an optional paid-for lunchtime session.

Classics Club Are you curious about the ancient world beyond the classroom? Classics Club explores the rich cultures, myths, history, and ideas of Greece and Rome in a creative, hands-on way. This is the perfect space for students who want to go further—whether through art, film, digital media, drama, or writing. Club members will experiment with a range of multi-media projects, from recreating ancient artefacts to producing short films or podcasts inspired by the rich vibrant culture and history of the classical world. All of which will help to bring the ancient world to life here at St Peter's!

Debating The debating club meets once a week after school on a Tuesday. In the younger years, the focus is on practice debates to help pupils compete successfully in school and house debates. For older pupils there is the opportunity to participate in national competitions such as the ESU Mace. No prior experience is necessary to join and there are opportunities for debaters who cannot attend the club to debate at different points during the year. It is open to all year groups. Debating also occurs throughout the school year in house debating competitions at all pupil age groups. These take place at lunchtimes for different age groups in different terms.

Departmental Clinics Most of our academic departments run regular catch-up clinics and support sessions at different points during the week. These tend to be on a drop-in basis, for pupils as they need to, with some being focused on support for coursework at GCSE and A level. As well as this, many of our pupils arrange 1:1 support sessions, particular in the run up to public exams or where there is a particular need for this.

Design Clubs Textiles Club The textiles club will be working on a series of mini textiles-based projects using a variety of skills aimed at boosting your confidence using the sewing machine. No previous experience needed is needed to join. And at the end of each project you will be able to take home your creations including a bags, cases etc. Charity Sewing Club – Stitching Comfort Together The Charity Sewing Club for Year 7 and 8 will help create a quilt for Project Linus, supporting ill and disabled children. Learn simple sewing skills, work as a team, and make something meaningful—no experience needed, just a willingness to get creative and help others!

Great Art Explained Club Pupils will find out about one iconic painting, sculpture or building each week. Each session will provide interesting facts about a piece of art or architecture, as well as providing you with a chance to discuss some of the big questions like "what makes art valuable?" and "what makes art good?" Pupils will visit York Art Gallery, look at architecture in York, and have the chance to present a work of art or architecture to the group.

Hard Physics This is a session aimed at L6 and U6th pupils who want to prepare for the Physics Olympiad competitions, Oxbridge entry or who simply want to stretch themselves. We will look through interesting interview questions, past Olympiad papers, hard Isaac Physics questions and more.

Keystone Magazine Keystone is the school magazine which is run by the English department. The club meets once a week to agree on articles to be written, offer advice and tips on how to do this, as well as time to work on these. You can still write for the magazine without joining the club. Membership is open to Year 10 and above.

Laurentius Lectures The Laurentius Lecture series provides an opportunity for academically interested pupils to share their research with the wider school community. Topics range from Greek Tragedy, Music and the Brain, Economics in Practice, The Psychology Behind Design, Virtual Reality and Architectural Design, to name but a few. Pupils deliver a short lecture of fifteen minutes to their peer group, the Head of Scholars and members of staff with a particular speciality in a given area, followed by questions from the floor. Any pupil from year 9 upwards is invited to speak and the lectures are open to pupils and staff, enabling scholars to develop their research and presentation skills as they prepare for further study beyond St Peter’s.

Linguistics Lunch Club Ever wondered how babies learn language without being taught? Why some words sound right and others don’t? How language is used in legal and criminal contexts? Or how you can decipher a language you’ve never seen before? The Linguistics Lunch Club is a fun, relaxed space for curious minds in from Years 7 - 18 to explore the science of language and prepare for the exciting challenge of the UK Linguistics Olympiad (UKLO). It is for anyone who enjoys puzzles or problem-solving, languages, spotting patterns and thinking creatively. No prior experience or extra languages needed, just curiosity!

Makerspace The Design and Technology department’s makerspace is a drop-in club that interested pupils can drop-in to as works best for them and their teacher. Pupils can work on their designs either as part of coursework (in the older years) or as their interest takes them (for the younger years).

Maths Club This is a club for pupils who love working on mathematical puzzles and problem solving. Each week has a completely new set of activities or questions to work through in either a group setting or as individuals. Most of the materials are designed to be low threshold, high ceiling, meaning that anyone can access and understand the task, but finding all the solutions will be a challenge!

Open Coding Open Coding Club explores the world of programming in a welcoming, creative environment. “Open coding” means you can work on your own projects at your own pace, explore ideas freely, and get support from others whenever you need it. Whether you’re a complete beginner or an experienced coder, everyone is encouraged to share ideas, collaborate, and learn together. Pupils of all years are welcome to come along to experiment, problem-solve, and turn ideas into reality!

Philosophy & Ethics Club "Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom." Aristotle Philosophy & Ethics Club is open to pupils in Year 10 and above and meets every Wednesday at 1.15pm in Room TC4. Each week we explore a different philosopher, ethical dilemma, or big question, from free will and happiness to artificial intelligence, justice, religion, and the meaning of life. Through discussion and debate, pupils are encouraged to develop their critical thinking, consider different perspectives, and engage with some of the most important questions human beings have ever asked.

STEM Club (Spintronics) Come and stretch your learning by taking part in challenges set by various education toys / kits. Future Civil Engineers can learn to construct bridges that remain intact with the Bridge or Bust bridge building adventure. You can also learn about electronics by solving the challenges set by our Spintronics Kit – a steampunk mechanical version of electric circuits; or solve the challenges set by our electronics kit, such as building a radio. Or maybe build real working electronic systems with our microcontroller mega project kit. Other activities will likely become available too.

The Sirius Academic Society The Sirius Society is fully inclusive academic society and represents the diverse interests of all its members. The only requirement for membership is that you are passionate about learning, knowledge acquisition through research of your subject specialty (be it academic or vocational), and that you want to challenge yourself and others to go above and beyond... wherever that may lead. The society offers a range of activities and events throughout the year for academically interested pupils to cater for all interests including: Senior Chess Club, the Junior and Senior House Challenge Quiz Series, and the Laurentius Lecture Series. Pupils are also invited to pursue their own academic interests through the creation of student led projects which are supported and funded by the Society. The academic year culminates with the publication of the Journal of the St Peter’s Academic Society, showcasing the finest academic research of the year. At the end of a busy academic year the Academic Society also hosts an annual celebratory dinner to reward and acknowledge the academic efforts of all its members.

VEX IQ VEX IQ is based on plastic, snap-together pieces specifically designed to build highly functional robots. This system doesn’t require any prior knowledge in robotics. Pupils can easily build their first robot, and the wide variety of additional parts means that they can build anything they imagine as they continue to learn.

Clubs, Service & Activities Board Games Club The board games club meets once a week at lunchtime to play a variety of different games as agreed by the club members. Anyone can join in any year group.

Book and Biscuit Club This club takes place in our Learning Support Hub. It operates on a drop-in basis and provides a welcoming space for pupils to talk about what they are reading – with a biscuit of course!

CCF The Combined Cadet Force (CCF) has an army focus at St. Peter’s and it is capbadged to the Royal Yorkshire regiment. The CCF aims to offer young people a broad range of challenging, exciting, and adventurous activities, with a focus on developing core values of responsibility, self-discipline, critical thinking, teamwork and leadership. Training is progressive, following the Army Cadet Force syllabus, working towards the achievement of Star Proficiency Awards. There is also the potential to earn promotions and take on positions of responsibility. There are no ‘pre-requisite’ skills required, nor is CCF only for those people who have existing connections to the Armed Forces or want to pursue a career in this area. The CCF meets once a week after school on a Tuesday.

Crochet Club The crochet club meets once a week on a lunchtime. Crochet is a craft of creating fabric by interlocking loops of yarn with a single hooked needle. It can be used to make a wide range of items, such as blankets, hats, and accessories, and is similar to knitting but uses one hook instead of two needles. Conversation while creating is a key part of the club! All year groups are welcome.

Cross Keys Games, chat, questions and a little bit of prayer and Bible study. Cross Keys is for everyone, of whatever faith background or non, who wants to explore how questions of spirituality and faith shape our lives. Spiritual intelligence is sometimes called the most important of all of the intelligences. It is the way in which we allow moments of awe and wonder, and the deeper questions about meaning and purpose shape our lives and help us to flourish as human beings. If that sounds like something you’d like to explore, Cross Keys meets on a Thursday lunchtime in the vestry and everyone is welcome, either every week or just to drop in every now and then.

Cryptic Crossword A cryptic crossword is a type of crossword puzzle where each clue is a selfcontained word puzzle, split into two parts: a definition and a wordplay section. The wordplay uses devices like anagrams, reversals, and hidden words to create a misleading but ultimately logical hint to the answer. This makes it more challenging and mentally stimulating than a standard crossword. If this challenge appeals to you, the club meets once per week on a lunchtime. Any year group is welcome.

Duke of Edinburgh (D of E) The Duke of Edinburgh award runs from Year 9 through to L6th and encompasses all three award levels: Bronze, Silver and Gold. The Bronze programme is undertaken in Year 9, The Silver programme in years 10 and 11, with Gold focused primarily on the L6th year. At each level, volunteering, skills, physical activity and a residential trip are all part of the award. Regular sessions run on a weekly basis at each level that focus on expedition planning, skill acquisition and in ensuring pupils are aware of how to complete the award.

Dungeons and Dragons The Dungeons & Dragons Club is a collaborative, story-driven activity where pupils work together to create and explore imaginative worlds guided by shared rules and storytelling. Members design unique characters and take part in ongoing adventures that develop creativity, communication, and strategic thinking. The club is accessible for both beginners and experienced players.

House Challenge This is St. Peter’s version of University challenge! It is very much a competition and takes place for different year groups at different points during the academic year on a lunchtime. All pupils are welcome to take part and the competition runs on a house basis to find the winning team.

Junior Dukes The Junior Duke award was founded by a teacher and now runs in over 40 countries. It is designed to help prepare younger pupils (in Years 7 and 8) for their future D of E programmes as well as to foster key life skills in their own right. The nature of this award means that it does not require all pupils to attend a weekly “club” but there are regular drop-in and catch-up sessions that take place throughout the year to help guide pupils through the award.

Social Action The Social Action team meet once a week as a club each Monday after school. This helps to plan the huge array of events that go on throughout the year and to consider ways to further develop the programme. You do not ned to attend the club to be involved in Social Action, but the group that meets plays a key role in ensuring all that takes place over the year is a success.

Warhammer The Warhammer Club offers pupils the opportunity to explore a richly detailed tabletop universe through miniature wargaming, modelling, and painting. Members design and build their own armies, learning how to assemble and customise figures while developing attention to detail and creativity. The club also focuses on strategic gameplay, with guided sessions that introduce rules, tactics, and collaborative play. Open to all experience levels, it provides a structured yet relaxed environment for pupils to develop practical skills and engage in a shared hobby.

Trips and Visits We have an extensive programme of trips to support pupils’ learning beyond the curriculum in so many different ways. The booklet link below gives a good flavour of what is on offer in the years ahead. In addition to this, there are lots of days trips to that extend learning and provide a range of experiences.

Read St Peter’s Trips Brochure for the 2026-27 Academic Year: