Extra Curricular
At St. Lawrence College we place great importance in the values of service and citizenship, good leadership, self-knowledge and consideration for those around us. To this end we offer an exciting range of outdoor team-building activities, designed to increase confidence and skills levels. In the 3rd Form (Year 9) these are frequently commenced during the 3-term compulsory membership of the Combined Cadet Force and may, if desired, lead to the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme; training and practice for all three levels (Bronze, Silver and Gold) is offered every year. Alternatively, pupils entering the school in Year 10 and starting GCSE courses may choose to start their D of E training at this time, with no previous experience.
Expedition training for D of E is done both locally and further afield: expedition training is organised in Kent and in the New Forest, and Adventure Training takes place annually in Perthshire during the Easter holidays where the Gold and Silver Expeditions are undertaken.
Service to the community, one of the important components of the D of E Award Scheme, can also take place locally if desired; some of our students visit Senior Citizens of Ramsgate, while others help out in local Nursery Schools or on local conservation schemes.
Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoons are given over to extra curricular activities which are run in addition to a full games and physical education programme. Activities are also provided at the weekends and Exeats.
We try to ensure a balance of ‘adventurous’ and ‘creative’ options; outdoor activities will vary depending on the time of year, but include rock climbing, lifesaving, team-building, bush craft, marksmanship, mountain biking, kayaking, golf, community service, shooting, horse riding and sailing.
Those with more creative talents can turn their hand to art, dance, drama, needlework and card-making. We also have a chess club, a Scrabble club and a puzzle club. Sixth Form pupils can choose a special ‘Cooking on a Budget’ course to prepare them for university life. Italian is popular as are archaeology, rugby and tennis. We have an excellent Fitness Centre and offer yoga for relaxation. Home Economics attracts the budding chefs and leads to great competition when the annual Christmas Cake competition takes place. The School Play, House Plays and the House Singing Competition involve a good number of pupils and may serve to awaken some latent talent, while the musically gifted may attend Choir and Orchestra. In short, we try to provide something for everyone to enjoy and encourage our pupils to acquire new skills.
Field trips and expeditions are offered throughout the year and are well-supported by pupils and parents. In recent years, our ‘A’ level Business Studies pupils have been to New York, Russia and the Czech Republic, there is an annual GCSE History Field Trip to the Somme and Geography Field Trips to Dorset or Snowdonia. There is a golfing holiday to Scotland every year and an annual Ski Trip to France or Italy, along with frequent trips to London, to enjoy the theatre or a musical.
