Both Boarders and Day-pupils are encouraged to join at least one hobby group, and indeed many children join several Hobby groups. The activities offered vary from term to term to suit the seasons, and to provide some variety for the children.
The Hobbies programme is offered throughout the Autumn and Spring terms, when activities generally running beteween 6.30 and 7.30 p.m. on Monday to Thursday evenings.
Activities available in recent years have included Archery, Athletics, Board games, Cookery, Cricket, Dance, Digital Photography, DT (lately with an emphasis on wheeled transport & buggies), Drama, Football, Hama Beading, Hockey, Horse Riding, Kite-making & flying, Rugby, Soft Toy making, Swimming and Table games. Several of the Hobby activities tend to generate teams which go on to take part in local and national competitions; the Athletics and Skiing hobbies are good examples.
The Summer Term sees Hobbies offered on a more informal basis: Cricket, Athletics and Swimming in the evenings, with Tennis also available earlier in the afternoons for the younger children.
The very popular After School Club is open to children aged 3 – 8 years between 3.30 p.m. and 5.00 p.m. providing a wonderful opportunity for pupils to enjoy a wide range of extra-curricular activities. These presently include Tennis and Dancing weekly with qualified peripatetic coaches, First Aid courses are run in conjunction with St. John Ambulance (certificates and badges are awarded for these), plus Crafts, Cooking and Outdoor Games.
Children can unwind by spending time in the Pre-Prep play area, making use of the swings, the slide and rope net, ball games, or making use of the various pieces of equipment on offer. They are also able to create their own fun with friends, just running around and letting off steam in the wonderful open space of the Walled Garden
Spending time in the woods is always popular: the children can explore, build dens, and make use of the Assault Course (all of which are of course closely supervised by staff). These activities allow the children to make choices, try out new things, and play and bond with other year groups in a relaxed and friendly environment.
The Teatime Club runs from 5.00 p.m. – 6.00 p.m. (5.45 p.m. for Nursery aged children). Children are provided with a well-balanced, nutritional light tea, where they can choose from a healthy selection of fillings in brown or white bread. Various fruit is also available together with a choice of milk, squash or water. This session ends with a quiet time in the Library where the children can relax, read and complete their homework before going home.