Beyond our Senior School classroom
We offer a diverse and extensive programme of co-curricular activities that our pupils love
Time is set aside, each week, for all pupils to take part in at least one co-curricular activity of their choice, and we’re always expanding and adapting our offering to make sure there’s something to suit everyone’s interest. We take pride in how our pupils:
- enjoy exploring their interests and enthusiasms;
- develop personal qualities such as self-motivation, collaboration and leadership; and
- contribute positively to our School and wider communities
Download our Co-Curricular Booklet
Highgate School has 30 specialist sports coaches and teachers.
Co-curricular activities, clubs and societies on offer in the Senior School
Highgate pupils undertake 6 major drama productions a year.
Visits and trips
Educational visits form an integral part of Highgate life, so we run a range of local, national and international trips. Whether it is a Duke of Edinburgh trip to our cottage in Wales, a visit to Montpellier with our French Department, or a sports tour to The Netherlands, there really is so much going on. And, with the heart of London on our doorstep, our curriculum is regularly brought alive with visits to galleries, museums and exhibitions.
In addition to making the most of our North London location, as part of our academic curriculum (and included in our fees), we run residential trips for Years 7 to 9 in the following locations:
Year 7 – three-day trip to LilleYear 8 – three-day trip to NorthumbriaYear 9 – two-day trip to the First World War Battlefields
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And here’s a flavour of a few other recent trips and visits:
- drama performance trips to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival
- regular theatre trips in London
- sports tours to Manchester, Rotterdam, Jersey, and Austria (skiing)
- language exchanges to France, Spain, Estonia and Germany
- classics trip to Sicily
- history trip to Berlin
- politics trips to the House of Commons
- geography field trips to Iceland or to Cerrig, our School’s centre in Wales
- Vex Robotics trip to America
Activities, clubs and societies
We have over 100 activities, clubs and societies in the Senior School to ensure everyone gets to try something different, discover a new hobby and make new friends.
Our activities fall into two categories:
Thursday Lunchtime Activities – compulsory for Y7 to 8
Friday Lunchtime Activities – compulsory for Y9-10; optional for the Lower School and the Sixth Form
We also have a wide range of Clubs and Societies that run across different mornings and afternoons.
Just some of our activities and clubs available:
- Thursday lunchtime activities
- Sign Language
- Bee Keeping
- Robotics
- Ultimate Frisbee
- Puzzle Club
- Squash
- Touch Rugby
- Reptile Club
- Fashion Illustration
- Making Sustainable Products
- Friday lunchtime activities
- Gardening
- Debating
- Juggling
- Programming
- Crosswords
- Spinning
- Improvisation
- Drawing skills
- Chess and Backgammon
- Other clubs and societies
- Environment Committee
- Chemistry Experiments Club
- Vinyl and Philosophy Society
- Pupil Charity Committee
- Olympian Greek Club
- Life drawing
- Pride Society
- Law Society
- Anime Society
- Punch Needle Embroidery
- Linguistics
- Yoga
- Automobile Club
- Jummah Friday Prayer
- CCF
- Duke of Edinburgh
Sports and the arts
Across Highgate, we aim to inspire our pupils to study and to work creatively. This goes beyond the classroom, with exciting co-curricular opportunities in all of the creative arts – music, drama, and art.
We are exceptionally fortunate when it comes to sport at Highgate with excellent staff and a wide range of sporting pathways available to all our pupils.
Outdoor education
Outdoor education is thriving at Highgate, providing our pupils with an experience that is unique when compared to many others in London day schools. A huge number of our pupils and staff are involved in our programme which has, at its heart, a number of core aims: to support the personal development journey of the individual; to promote fun and adventure; to recognise the value of being outside and engaging with the natural world; and to enjoy the associated benefits for physical and mental health.
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We also venture further afield, making use of our centre in Snowdonia, Cerrig Pryfaid, which is primarily used for Duke of Edinburgh, climbing and other outdoor activities. We also run numerous other adventurous trips that are close to home or further afield. In the last two years, our pupils have climbed Stok Kangri, a 6,150m mountain in Northern India and, more recently trekked to the Mount Everest Base Camp.
Two huge and popular aspects of Highgate’s outdoor education are Combined Cadet Force (CCF) and the Duke of Edinburgh (DoE) Award.
CCF develops leadership and offers a varied package of training plus adventurous pursuits like climbing, kayaking, abseiling, walking and caving. Highgate’s CCF is run by our older pupils and sixth formers, who hold non-commissioned officer ranks, and School staff, with some assistance from the army.
The Duke of Edinburgh award is internationally recognised and highly respected. It aims to help young people develop a range of skills such as teamwork, resilience and giving something back to the community. Over 270 Highgate pupils are involved across Bronze, Silver and Gold awards, meaning we are the largest centre in Haringey. Our DoE pupils are to be found volunteering, learning new skills, and doing something physical, as well as undertaking a demanding camping expedition where they learn to be self-sufficient and trek independently.
Pupil voice
Our pupils play an active role in shaping our School community and we greatly value their ideas. Here is a sample of some of the most popular groups:
School councils – Representatives from the different sections of our School meet regularly to discuss their ideas for improving our School and making a positive difference
Pupil Welfare Committee – This active group works closely with our Director of Wellbeing to help shape our mental health and wellbeing strategy
Environment Committee – This impassioned group is committed to helping our School drive through important sustainability initiatives
Charity and Community Action Committee – This group is committed to raising the profile of community engagement and to raising funds for our nominated charities