Extracurricular activities

Short Bible study over cookies during morning breaktime.

Run by members of Sixth Form interested in pursuing a career in engineering but open to all members of the School, Engineering Society promotes and explores opportunities in this extremely diverse career field via inschool activities, talks, visits and project work with local engineering firms.

Students group together with the support of parents to compete at various school equestrian events. This activity carries an additional cost.

For anyone who is curious – to explore aspects of Christian faith and designed to inspire conversation, sharing thoughts and asking questions.

An opportunity for students to explore textiles through screen printing, embroidery and other fibre arts.

Fencing Club is run by an external coach who offers students the opportunity to learn and develop new skills in a sport that they may never have tried before.

Explore filmic works over a wide range of genres, discussing all aspects of their creation such as cinematography, sound design, and narrative.

First Orchestra performs at Christmas and in the two senior concerts each year in November and March, often giving concerto opportunities to advanced music scholars.

The Fitness Suite offers state-of-the-art equipment and technology to further opportunities for students during lessons, in Learn to Train (Year 7), the developing athlete programme, and for recreation and elite sport. Designed to be welcoming and accessible, this is a highly popular facility offering both individual training and fitness classes.

Football takes place all year round. It is an increasingly popular sport and fixtures are played in local, regional and national competitions.

An opportunity for students taking GCSE Art and Design to extend their classroom work, do specialist art homework, experiment with media, and discuss progress.

A popular and healthy lifestyle activity, this club runs in the group cycling room.

Gymnastics is a popular sport at St Helen’s. There are clubs for all year groups and we train junior and senior squads who compete in local, regional and national competitions.

This is a club for anyone interested in classical activities. No knowledge of Latin or Greek is required. Roman cooking and Greek vase painting, writing and performing plays, games, films and jigsaw puzzles are typical pursuits of club members

Hockey is predominantly indoor, with friendly and regional fixtures taking place. Participation in outdoor hockey also occurs in the county rounds of competition.

Indoor rowing is a highly popular activity and investment in our Ergo Suite has increased our provision. Training is focused on technique and there are opportunities to compete in national competitions.

Every Monday lunchtime, students gather to learn basic conversational Italian. Some have lived in Italy and others simply have a passion for the language. In the past, students have learnt to describe family and friends, to order food, planned a trip to Florence and even baked pizzas.

Learn how to make jewellery! Students can make rings, earrings and necklaces using silver, semiprecious stones and beautiful beads.

The Joint Choral Society includes students, parents and staff from St Helen’s and Abingdon School and responsibility for its organisation alternates annually between the two schools.

In Lit Soc we look at a piece of literature or an aspect of language that students are less likely to come across in school lessons – from the origins of the novel to the etymology of words.

The MFL Society runs joint events with Abingdon School such as the annual MFL Society Dinner, a movie evening and seminars on translation or literature.

Each year St Helen’s and Abingdon School stage the senior play and senior musical alternately. The play gives students the opportunity to enjoy being part of a senior theatre production with a focus on character and compelling plot lines. The senior musical offers students the opportunity to participate as part of a large cast and to audition for both principal and ensemble roles, enjoying the freedom to develop their acting, singing and movement skills. 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.

This club enables students to build on – and extend – their practical skills. Projects are set each half term and include art, craft and design activities as well as competitions.

The Junior Chemistry Club is run by Lower Sixth students and allows Juniors to experience fun and exciting chemisty experiments.

A choir performing a variety of material for any Junior student who enjoys singing.

One of the highlights of the Junior calendar, this production uses the talents of all the students in Years 5 and 6 to create a musical theatre spectacular performed to parents at the end of Trinity term.

A weekly quiz for Junior Department students, pitting teams against each other in contests of general knowledge as they compete for points and edible prizes.

Coaching is provided by specialist lacrosse coaches and regular weekend fixtures against local schools provide ample opportunity to develop match-play skills. Teams also compete with great success at regional and national level.

Lacrosse stick skills provides an opportunity for students to practise and refine their basic skills in a mixed-year-group club.

This club prepares students to deliver a language lesson to Years 5 and 6 students at local primary schools. They are introduced to the more technical aspects of preparing a lesson and enjoy the challenge of using their language skills for a real communication purpose

An opportunity for students to develop their drawing skills.

Livermorium Club is an opportunity for students to extend their chemistry knowledge and explore problem-solving aspects beyond A level as well as prepare for the Chemistry Olympiad.