Co-curricular

11 and 12-year-olds are an energetic lot, and Junior House is the perfect time to try out everything on offer at Ampleforth, not only in the classroom but through our extensive co-curricular programme. We want every child to have a broad variety of experiences to discover their potential and talents, learn about themselves, think about who they are and what they can contribute to the world around them.

To enrich the curriculum and widen pupils’ experiences and thinking, the whole school takes a break from classroom lessons on Friday afternoons to pursue their interests and find new ones. Pupils can choose from a wide range of options such as riding, Green Room (working behind the scenes in the Theatre), golf, tennis, knitting, outdoor foraging and cooking, football, seasonal sports practice, cricket, Schola (choir), Junior House instrumental ensemble, Orchestra, and Pipe Band (bagpipes and drums).

In Junior House, there are also two or three options of co-curricular activities every evening, including a variety of sports, music, and arts and crafts, as well as Chess, seasonal sports, Bridge, Swimming, Drama, Calligraphy, Rifle shooting, House band, and History Society. A second activity slot later on offers Junior Model United Nations, Astronomy, Warhammer, and cinema club, among other things. There is also a fun swim in our 25m pool most Friday evenings.

Activities are also available at weekends, and we make the most of our gorgeous environment with mountain biking expeditions, clay pigeon shooting, lots of sports, or simply enjoying the countryside with a walk through the valley. We also like to get out to visit different parts of Yorkshire with seaside trips to Scarborough or surfing in Saltburn, cultural trips to York, or having fun doing crazy golf or bowling. A firm favourite is the nearby Flamingo Land theme park.