Best Schools - School clubs matter; delivering outlets for activity and creativity

Daily summary of the latest news and opinions from the world of independent education brought to you by Education Advisers...

School clubs matter; delivering outlets for activity and creativity

School clubs are an essential part of a child’s education – they deliver beyond the realm of the academic and enable students to dabble in areas of interest outside the curriculum and to build personal and technical skills that they might not otherwise have opportunities to develop.

Michael Ledzion, founder and CEO of social enterprises Sports for Schools and Clubs for Schools, discusses the benefits of clubs and how schools can ensure they have an attractive offering for parents and students

Studies such as The Impact of After-School Programs that Promote Personal and Social Skills, have shown that the benefits of extra-curricular activities include:

higher academic achievement;
new friends and the associated benefits;
better organisation and time management;
improved behaviour;
new skills;
greater fitness levels;
discovery of new activities which help pupils develop their individual interests and curiosities;
development of a sense of responsibility.

A professor of psychology from Yale University, Joseph Mahoney, found that those children who participated in after-school clubs were less likely to be affected by depressed moods. This was particularly true for those with poor relationships with their parents, who benefited from the support of after-school activity leaders.

The Clubs for Schools survey showed that 60% of parents expect extra-curricular activities to be fun, 37% expect their children to learn a new skill, while a similar number believe they improve their children’s confidence.

Parents have 'outdated' views towards vocational studies, says Education Secretary

Damian Hinds urged all schools, including grammars and selective independent schools, to make sure pupils were aware that apprenticeships and other forms of technical education were a good alternative to university.

“There are great opportunities in technical and vocational and I think we need to change the outdated attitudes that you sometimes hear about vocational routes, because they are different from what they were.

Wellington College has led the way in the independent sector with two conferences on degree apprenticeships.

“The new T levels are predominantly a college-based system with a meaningful job placement, with English, maths and IT skills. That is a big opportunity in 2020 when they are introduce to refresh the idea of studying between 16 to 18 once again,” Mr Hinds said.