Clubs and societies

The Saxophone Ensembles perform at a variety of events and always feature at the Jazz Evening and the summer Jazz Afternoon.

Each year the Sixth Form drama scholars develop their own individual projects. These might range from a club focused on a specific skill to theatre workshops or an original production. Details of these opportunities are announced and posted on the Drama Department notice boards each year.

Representatives from each year come together to address and discuss openly school matters including events, environmental initiatives and so much more.

We aim to ignite our young scientists’ curiosity with engaging experiments and dynamic demonstrations.

Senior Geography Society offers students the chance to engage deeply with contemporary geographical themes beyond the A Level curriculum. From organising events like Climate Change Awareness Fortnight to inviting expert guest speakers and exploring thought-provoking books, the society nurtures curiosity and critical thinking in a collaborative setting.

Senior lit soc, like Literati, explores aspects of literature and language that students are less likely to come across in lessons, from Old English riddles, to graphic novels, to the etymological trends in ‘Swifties’ culture.

An opportunity for Sixth Form politics students to deepen their insight into political issues and to contribute to the production of the annual St Helen’s politics magazine.

The annual Senior production is open to students in Y11 – U6 and alternates between a play and a musical year on year. Students enjoy working as part of a large and creative cast. Plays offer the opportunity to focus on character and compelling plot lines, whilst musicals develop acting, singing and movement skills. Boys from local schools and theatre groups are invited to audition for principal male roles, giving St Helen’s students the opportunity to be part of a collaborative and talented senior cast. We also highly value the skill of students who support backstage and make sure that the show is able to run smoothly and look fantastic.

Senior Socratic Society is a space for thoughtful discussion, challenge, and reflection. Each week, we explore philosophical ideas behind current events, ethical dilemmas, and age-old debates, building our skills in argument, reasoning, and critical thinking along the way.

Sign language club is a brilliant way to learn a new form of communication and improving cognitive skills. It provides a fun and engaging environment to learn a valuable skill that promotors inclusion and understanding.

Sinfonia performs a variety of light and accessible music, giving performances throughout the year.

Sinfonietta tackles a mixture of standard orchestral repertoire and lighter material and performs twice a year in February and June.

Spanish Grammar Club is open to all Sixth Form students studying Spanish to help get to grips with the harder grammar points of the course, including the all-important subjunctive.

Swimming takes place throughout the year. Our competitive squads swim at all levels and are highly successful, enjoying regular inter-school galas and swimming competitions regionally and nationally.

Taekwondo is run by an external accredited coach and is open to all year groups. Students get the chance to gain accreditation in graded belts. This activity carries an additional cost.

A weekly space of calm in our Living Room to take time out of your busy schedule. No faith background or knowledge needed.

Tea Concerts are an informal concert series which mostly take place in Chapel. Anyone of any standard is welcome to sign up for each concert, whether they learn in or out of school.

This ensemble provides an opportunity for string players in Years 7–9 to enjoy making music together and focus on specialist string skills. Students learn the repertoire separately with their teachers then come together for a few rehearsals before each concert.

This weekly lunchtime activity offers students the opportunity to work with our specialist theatre technician to develop their skills in all aspects of theatre design. These include lighting, sound, costume and quick-changes, stage management and all the elements that are needed to support a theatre production successfully.

An opportunity to explore computing projects beyond the classroom. Tinker with micro:bits, Arduinos, and Lego Mindstorms, or create beautiful digital art using Photoshop, Blender and Unity.

Tennis is a sport with a full programme of clubs, squads and private coaching available during PE lessons, lunchtimes and after school all year round. This is provided by specialist tennis coaches. Private lessons carry an additional cost.

This is an academic programme for students who want to engage more deeply with complex ideas. It begins with a taught course in which you will explore key philosophical concepts and then work collaboratively on a group project, finishing with a presentation to your peers.

You can choose to progress to the Diploma Stage, where you’ll design and carry out your own independent philosophical enquiry on a topic of your choice.

Run by specialist coaches, this is a popular club for all students.

Students run their own company for a year, designing, manufacturing, marketing and selling products. Starting with market research to help to define product ideas, they put together a business plan and take part in trade fairs and even apply for funding.

An opportunity to learn to play the ukulele and perform a variety of repertoire in a specialist ensemble at a range of school events.

All violists are encouraged to join this viola-only ensemble – a great opportunity not only for those already playing but also for violinists wishing to try the instrument.

Run in the Trinity term, Outdoor Volleyball is a fun way to learn new skills.

Come along and dance to Beat Sabre or explore space with Star Trek or maybe fight off the droids with Star Wars. Alternatively, some students just choose to sit by a lake and practise some mindfulness or listen to music!

Wind Orchestra performs at the Christmas, February and June school concerts and members learn a range of music, with an emphasis on enjoyment.

Bring drawings or 3D models to life in our Stop Motion Animation club! Students can explore storytelling and digital creativity through fun, hands-on projects.

This club involves drama games to build coordination and teamwork along with developing physical theatre skills and stagecraft. Students explore a range of material and are encouraged to develop their own creative ideas, often offering short lunchtime performances to build skills and confidence.

A collaborative sketchbook club where Year 9 students share ideas, experiment with new techniques, and build creative confidence in a fun, informal setting.