Want to set up some more extra curricular activities in your school? Then here are a few tips on how to go about it:

Safeguard first and foremost

Safeguarding your pupils comes first, whatever the activity you’re organising, ensure those volunteering have had DBS checks.   

Think of more than sport

Sports play a significant part in extra curricular activities, but at many schools, they are the only activities available. So, in planning new activities, see how you can engage the interests of pupils who don’t participate in sport, consider activities such as a reading group, maths, arts and crafts or horticulture.

 

Embrace your gifts

Utilise your enthusiasms and run extra curricular activities which draw on them, so if you are a whizz at knitting, run a knit and natter group. Your enthusiasm will come across to your students, and that can be an infectious thing, inspiring others.

Recognise your colleagues’ talents

When looking to develop the activities available in your school don’t neglect the skills of your colleagues. Remember, they may well have skills that are not apparent from their job title or their day-to-day responsibilities like baking, gardening or sewing. All of these gifts could enrich the experience of your students.  

Engage the assistance of older pupils

Encourage older pupils to help run activities, so they can develop their skills too and can add value to their university applications and CVs.  

Develop business contacts

Develop contacts with local businesses; ask your local chambers of commerce or enterprise organisation to point you in the right direction. Some companies may already have staff involved in school and community liaison, while some businesses give their staff time off to volunteer. So utilise the skills available in your local community, to broaden the range of activities available at your school.

 

Voluntary, charitable and third sector organisations

Also, don’t neglect to make contact with charitable, voluntary and third sector organisations in your local area; they too are often well practiced when it comes to community engagement and will give your students a fresh perspective on life goals and careers.       

A common good

Instead of thinking of what you can do for your pupils, consider instead what they can do for others. For example form a group to lead a charitable effort in the school, like organising a shoebox appeal in the lead up to Christmas or undertaking voluntary work in the local area.            

Invite special guests

Once you have an activity up and running, ask special guests to come along and give a talk. So, for example, if you run a school newspaper – then ask the editor of your local newspaper to give a talk. Have a young historian’s club? Then ask a local curator or archaeologists along to chat about their work. Inviting special guests can give you a fresh perspective on an industry or topic; and inspire those who attend.      

Your teaching career

Are you a teacher who always goes the extra mile for your students? If that’s the case and you’re looking to take the next step in your teaching career, then contact Simply Education in Essex about your next career move.