Helping all of its students develop into well-rounded, confident individuals with the skills and experience they need to thrive, The Crypt School in Gloucester provides plentiful opportunities for personal development and extracurricular learning.
Students are encouraged to take part in activities that go beyond the curriculum throughout their school lives, helping them discover what it is that they love doing and providing them with the resources they need to follow their passions and hone their skills.
Whether it's through learning about diversity and inclusion, developing key study skills or coming together as a community, the Crypt provides an environment in which its students can grow through its highly valued personal development programme.
All years from Year 7 to Sixth Form embark on a personal development journey, with a changing focus on different school values each term through assemblies and tutor time activities, tailored to each year group.
Relating to school values of pride, kindness, integrity, respect and responsibility, topics throughout the year include things like bullying, diversity, relationships and health and wellbeing, helping pupils to improve their awareness, develop their identities and 'build cultural capital'.
Younger years also have opportunities to enhance their literacy and revision skills; older school pupils are given time to think about their future careers; and sixth formers are given help with UCAS and exploring their options post 18, with a view to facilitating employability.
The school provides a range of engaging options for extracurricular learning, too, including clubs and societies, trips and visits and additional qualifications, like the Duke of Edinburgh Award or Extended Project Qualification.
Lunchtime and after school clubs allow students to dedicate extra time to subjects like music, history, IT, drama and a range of sports — alongside those that are more unique or specialist, such as dungeons and dragons or aviation.
Students also have opportunities to develop their skills in engineering — in areas ranging from computing to robotics and aerospace — through taking part in national projects, events and competitions.
And Sixth form students are encouraged to explore their passions away from academic life through a varied enrichment programme.
Activities include those designed to boost health and wellbeing like cooking, sports and music; academic and work-related learning, ranging from science and engineering to drama; participation in the school community, including its three school parliaments and charity events; and even trips abroad.
To find out more about personal development and extracurricular activities at the Crypt, visit cryptschool.org or consider attending one of its regular open events.
