NOT TRIVIAL PURSUITS
EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES are good for you. They might even keep you alive. “The most important reason to learn swimming is that it is the only sport which can save your child’s life,” says Swim England, which offers Swim Safe, a free course of outdoor swimming and water safety lessons for sevento 14-year-olds, every summer.
The earlier you begin, the easier swimming will be, says Tori Elliott of Aweswim, which runs termtime classes and holiday crash courses in Golders Green, Kingsbury, St Albans, Northwood and Royston.
Elliott recommends parent-andbaby classes from six weeks old or from two-and-a-half in a group lesson. “But there is no correct time to start; when you believe your child is ready or if you as an adult are looking for lesson, that is as good a time as any.”
Should you choose one-to-one or group lessons? “One-to-one lessons would be beneficial for those who require more attention or are particularly nervous,” she says. “Group lessons in our case are never larger than six pupils and are split based upon ability, concentrating on certain aspects of swimming each week to ensure focused learning and development. At Aweswim, the teachers are in the water with you.”
Swim England reminds us that swimming is fun and “keeps your child’s heart and lungs healthy, improves strength and flexibility, increases stamina and even improves balance and posture.” Children of any age or ability can take part.
“Swimming provides challenges and rewards accomplishments, which helps children to become self-confi- dent and believe in their abilities.” It also opens the door to other sports, such as kayaking, canoeing, scuba diving, surfing and triathlon.
“Another benefit is the security that you will have as a parent,” says Elliott, “knowing your child can swim and be safe in water and you are able to enjoy the water yourself and with your family, on holiday or at a leisure centre.”
The older you are, the more daunting the thought of learning to swim. However experienced staff understand that a fear can take some time to get over and will help you, promises Elliott. If you can already swim, classes will develop your technique and stamina.
At Haberdashers’ Aske’s School, in Elstree, Herts, the buzzword is not “extra-curricular” but “co-curricular”, in recognition of the important place such activities have in the life of the school. “Habs is renowned for its excellence in the classroom, outstanding exam results and university offers to the likes of Oxford, Cambridge, Durham, Bristol, Imperial, Harvard — but if you were to ask a Habs boy what he remembers most about his time there, what memories he treasures — he would, in all probability, talk about the enjoyment, the camaraderie and the quality of our cocurricular programme,” says the school.
At Habs Boys, there are more than 70 activities to choose from, including archery, maths, model United Nations, robotics, cadet training, bridge and big band. Sports include climbing, clay pigeon shooting, golf, kayaking, judo and tennis.
These give boys “the opportunity to find their forte outside the classroom; to have the chance to taste success; to work as part of a team and develop new skills... talents which continue to develop throughout their time with us and beyond... passions that will fuel their desire to forge new paths.
Every boy can explore his individual interests and even start his own clubs if one does not already exist, says Habs. “By doing so, we encourage boys to take more initiative with their own personal development and allow them a space where they can excel in a subject of their choosing.”
The school believes it is important that co-curricular activities should be inclusive. This means a sports programme that offers up to six teams per sport at senior level and a music department that embraces ensemble music — from those first notes on an instrument all the way through to diploma level. Everyone has a chance to show what they can do.
The 200-plus trips and excursions during the school year enable pupils to “visit new countries and embrace new cultures”. Cricket tours to Sri Lanka, community projects in Tanzania and visits to Washington and New York
with the politics department contribute to the mix.
EXTRA CHANCES TO SHINE
DRAMA
Stagecoach, which teaches singing, dance and drama across the country, says its workshops develop skills in teamwork, speaking with confidence, listening, creativity, positivity and respect for others. “Our students become more self-assured, expressive, sociable and imaginative and they learn how to tackle situations with resilience, creativity and courage.”
CHESS
Premier Chess Coaching, run by UK national master Tomer Eden, provides chess lessons for children and adults in schools and clubs throughout London, as well as on a private basis. Chess, says the company, gives children experience of solving complicated problems, improves maths skills and teaches patience and strategising, in a world where many other things are available to them in an instant.
BALLET
All forms of dance are enjoyable and offer healthy exercise. Ballet encourages dedication, precision, strength and balance. If your child would like to take up ballet as a career, it is almost essential to start young.
MUSIC
Learning a musical instrument fosters discipline through regular practice and this can be applied to other areas of education, such as homework. Even if your child is not an able player, an appreciation of music will give them a lifetime’s pleasure. Singing in a choir has enjoyable social spin-offs at any age.
IVRIT
Hebrew literacy is the pathway to so many things. In school, it equips children with a fearless grasp of languages with unfamiliar alphabets, as well as general linguistic understanding. Throughout life, it can be a bridge to meaningful prayer and a route to greater appreciation of both Jewish and Israeli culture. And it is useful on holiday, of course.
If you do not learn modern or classical Hebrew at school, you can study it at a club such as the London Hebrew Gymnasium.