Co-Curricular and Enrichment
At Brentwood, we offer an exceptional programme of co-curricular and enrichment activities with a wide and diverse selection of trips, societies, and clubs, including our Tennis Academy, Equestrian Team, Chess Academy and Fencing Club.
Our co-curricular provision is inclusive and we encourage all students to participate in activities and societies that they find interesting. Some activities aim to stimulate and extend students with a particular subject passion whereas some are less subject-driven and more focused on broadening interests and knowledge.
There is something for everyone.
Co-Curricular Booklet Brentwoodian Magazine
Playing in the big band, orchestras and smaller jazz ensembles has helped me incredible amounts not only to gain confidence and experience playing in front of large audiences but Brentwood’s countless masterclasses and bringing in world renowned musicians like Matt Ridley and Florian Mitrea has given myself and all musicians around me the opportunity to develop our musical skills so much further!
Specialist Music Programme
Brentwood School Music Department has enjoyed considerable success and growth over the past decade and proudly sits in the top tier of the Independent School sector.
Our Specialist Music Programme will rigorously train, assess and inspire opted-in musicians in an individually tailored pathway, as part of the wider school curriculum, and is aimed at those who are seriously considering a career or future in music.
For further information, please contact Mr Grig Cuciuc below.
Engaging Activities
We hope that our students will enjoy the wide range of activities available. Students may elect to take part in competitive and recreational sport (we were ranked 17th in School Sport Magazine’s ‘Top 20 Sporting Schools), musical activities (we are a Steinway School and have a partnership with the Guildhall School of Music), drama groups and productions, public speaking and Model United Nations, STEAM and much more.
Expert coaching is on offer from outstanding teachers and we place as much value on the introduction of students to new activities as we do to the success of our students on the local, regional and national stage.
As students progress through their Brentwood School career, their co-curricular activities provide an important balance to their academic studies and prepare them to pursue varied interests and activities once they leave School.
We encourage students to develop a physical literacy to enjoy a variety of activities and develop skills which will allow them to be active later on in life. This ultimately helps to build self confidence and supports the health and emotional wellbeing of our students.
Encouraging Participation and a Culture of Excellence
Sport at Brentwood is incredibly successful and nationally renowned in a number of areas. Winning is a habit, however, many of our students enjoy the social, non-competitive and fun aspects of the sports on offer.
Students can participate in over 30 sports, from football to aerobics and golf to shooting – it would be a challenge not to find an activity you enjoy!
At Brentwood, we organise overseas tours for teams to compete and increase their expertise. We also compete with local schools and field over 100 teams at inter-school, county and national level.
At the elite end of the spectrum, we have a proven track record of producing top-class performers who excel and inspire. We offer the Elite Player Pathway from Year 8 to Upper Sixth Form to support our most gifted and talented athletes to help prepare them for possible progression to elite sport.
Our partnership with Essex Cricket Club also offers the opportunity for students in the wider community and across Essex to practise and play at Brentwood School.
When I joined this school, I had never played chess before. But as I began to attend chess clubs in school, my rating and skill level began to rise rapidly.
Broadening Horizons
The Brentwood School programme of Sports, Performing Arts, the Combined Cadet Force (CCF), the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE), our Voluntary Service Activity (VSA) community outreach and charitable work and other activities are unrivalled in breadth and quality.
Participation in these activities helps our students to cultivate a range of personal qualities, such as self-confidence and resilience, and acquire skills, such as leadership and teamwork, which help them to develop into successful, rounded and grounded young people.
For further details on co-curricular activities please contact the relevant staff for the activities as featured in the co-curricular booklet or Mrs Davis, Director of Co-Curricular Activities.
State-of-the-art Facilities
Our facilities are world-class and include extensive playing fields, cutting-edge music and drama studios, science labs and plenty of well-equipped learning centres. Our 75-acre site offers many football, rugby, cricket and hockey pitches, tennis and netball courts and an athletics track. There is also an all-weather floodlit pitch and a refurbished astroturf pitch for our students to enjoy.
The School has an on-site Sports Centre which features a 25m indoor swimming pool, a fitness suite with computerised equipment, four glass-backed squash courts, a main hall large enough to accommodate seven badminton courts plus a multi-purpose room for dance and other activities. There is also a purpose-built Fencing Salle that is the practice home of the School’s strong fencing community.
Timetabled Co-Curricular Activities
Students use SOCS, our online co-curricular system, to sign up for activities at the start of each term. Form Tutors monitor students’ involvement and help them to coordinate their choices. Students involved in activities out of School may count these as co-curricular activities, provided that the Form Tutor is informed. Students are also encouraged to reflect on their co-curricular participation each half term to recognise the vital personal skills they are developing whilst taking part in activities they enjoy.
Every student in the school participates in timetabled co-curricular activities through their Tuesday morning lessons (Year 8 upwards) or lessons on Wednesdays and Thursdays during period 5 (Year 7). We also encourage all students to take advantage of the before-school, lunchtime and after-school activities available.
Activity Options
Three popular activity options open to Year 9 and above that give students yet another opportunity to build relationships and be outward-looking are:
The Combined Cadet Force (CCF)
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) the Great Outdoors (GO)
The Voluntary Service Activity (VSA)
Beyond the Classroom
We pride ourselves in offering a rich and diverse range of trips and visits to all of our students.
Trips range from one day to one month in length, and cover extensive locations across the UK, Europe, Africa and more!
Opportunities offered link to the vast majority of curriculum-based subjects, along with co-curricular and cross-curricular pathways.
Our students also take part in four ‘Field Days’, where they engage in a variety of co-curricular activities including day trips and residential activities.
I would definitely recommend the French trip because it was a great way to experience France and its culture. You get to meet new people and try new delicacies. You also get to spend time with friends making it fun and educational.
Brentwood in numbers
