Extra-Curricular and Wider Opportunities
We understand that a student’s time at Carnforth High School is not only about the experiences they gain in the classroom. We are committed to offering students a wide range of extra-curricular activities. This includes a host of weekly activities organised by staff at both lunchtime and after school.
Each week in form time students are shown a timetable showing which clubs are happening each day and where the club takes place. Theer are also posters for our clubs around school.
Parents/carers are kept informed about clubs through our fortnightly newsletter. An overview of which clubs are taking place can be found in the first newsletter of each half term and stories and photos of student successes in clubs are also shared.
Clubs running this half term can be seen below.
In addition to our extensive sports clubs offer, recent Skills and Social clubs have included:
- Anime Club
- Art Club
- Biccies and Books Club
- Charity Knitting Club
- Chess Club
- Cooking Club
- Community Events and Fundraising Club
- Creative Writing Club
- Debate Club
- Drama Club
- Eco and Sustainability Club
- Foraging Artistry Club
- GeoGuessr Club
- History Fiction Writing Club
- My Hero Club
- Puzzle Club
- Read It Again Club
- Science Club
- Shichi Narabe Club
- Textiles Artists
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award
To develop students’ extra curricular journey beyond Year 8, all students in Year 9 are given the opportunity to participate in the Bronze Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is:
- An Adventure – The world’s leading achievement award for young people
- An Opportunity – Recognition of student achievements
- A Challenge – A life changing programme of activities
Students need to complete 3 months in each of the key strands: and 6 months in one of their choice. The strands are: volunteering, physical, skills. They also complete a 2 day and 1 night practice and qualifying expedition.
We have also offered the Silver Duke of Edinburgh’s Award in the past (last offered in 2024/25) and will run it again in the future for students who wish to further their DofE journey.
Students are also encouraged to participate in the clubs and teams within school so they can complete the award.
School Council
Every one of our forms has a form representative, elected at the start of the term. Each half term one of our weekly Personal Development sessions is dedicated to each form discussing issues that concern them to share with their form rep. Our School Council then meets in full every half term to discuss these issues, summarise them, and share their finding with the School Leadership Team. The School Council meets more regularly for ‘snap meetings,’ in which they discuss issues arising and plan how they will contribute to wider school life. One project they have recently led on is ‘Bulbs for Belonging.’
Our School Council has an elected student leadership team that organises and runs School Council meetings, as well as supporting students more generally, including having a weekly drop-in surgery in which any students can share concerns. Our current School Council leadership team is:
- President: Millie (Year 11)
- Vice President: Paige (Year Y10)
- Secretary: Penny (Year 8)
- Treasurer: Emily (Year 8)
Prefects
Each year we build the leadership skills of students in Year 11 through our Prefect system. This year we have 32 Prefects. Our Prefects apply for their positions at the start of the academic year, complete interviews to explain their ideas for their roles and are then appointed for the duration of the academic year once they have undertaken training around developing leadership skills. Prefects are involved in formal roles, including supporting key community events, such as Open Evening, key charity events such as fundraisers, and being assigned to support our extra-curricular clubs. Additionally, Prefects offer informal support by being role models around school and by supporting any students that need them. Prefects are easily recognised by their red ties, which they wear with pride.
Visits out of School
We endeavour to support our student’s understanding of their curriculum in school, as well as to develop their cultural capital, by taking them out of school on visits both in the UK and abroad. In the last academic year, visits have included:
- Liverpool One
- KS3 Primary School Story-Telling Festival
- Youth Speaks Competition in Kendal
- Manchester Etihad Stadium Regeneration
- Hillcroft Nursing Home
- Imperial War Museum
- Lancaster Royal Infirmary
- Manchester Art Gallery
- Sealife Centre Manchester
- Museum of Liverpool
- Blackpool Pleasure Beach
- Normandy, France
- Cyber Girls at Lancaster University
- Big Bang Fair in Birmingham
- Grassmere Lake, Cumbria
- Blood Brother Theatre Prooduction
- Germany Visit