Unlocking potential through a huge range of clubs and activities

Our Prep clubs cover the arts, sciences, sports and games. Activities are as varied as Samba Superstars, hockey, trampolining, chess and STEM.

The majority of clubs come at no additional cost, although a few, such as tennis, ballet and Boxing Bambinos have a charge attached. 

Club times may be used for homework or for rehearsals. Some clubs are closely aligned to academic work, the Greek Myths and Art & Textiles, for example. Many hone or widen sporting skills – cricket, football, basketball, cross country and so on. Girls in Years 3 to 6 are offered masterclasses in netball and boys in Years 3 and 4 ‘ready for contact’, are invited to wrestle and grapple safely with rugby teammates before the start of the school day. 

Club times expand horizons, consolidate learning, allow skills to be mastered and even get homework out of the way before hometime. Add to all that, trips to sites of interest and visiting speakers on topics as wide-ranging as earthquake response, the Listed buildings of Ipswich and beach cleaning – we ensure the extra-curricular box is well and truly ticked!

We are renowned for our sporting excellence and there’s no doubt about it, many of our students would rather begin and end their day with training than pretty much anything else. We love their passion and commitment and therefore offer skills clubs, masterclasses and development sessions in all our performance sports and other more minor sports too, including squash, basketball, hockey, trampolining and barbells.

Many students use the daily development hour and other club sessions to focus on arts activities, including rehearsals, academic extension, in languages and additional GCSEs, or to complete their homework at a time when help, should it be needed, is at hand. 

For the majority – and much encouraged by the school – development hour is an opportunity to try something new alongside known interests and completing set work. So, for example, it would be quite feasible to attend pantomime rehearsal one day (oh yes you can!), Model United Nations on another afternoon, baton twirling on the third and a table top gaming session on the fourth. 

Clubs help our students become the well-rounded individuals we want them to be. They allow time for activities such as the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award to be undertaken, participate in Race Track Physics and gain some valuable baking experience at the Food Club.

We offer our Lower and Upper Sixth students all sorts of options for varying their routines and improving their CVs.

By the time students reach Sixth Form, they tend to have some well-established interests of their own which they are keen to pursue at every opportunity. For the musicians among them, this might include playing with a band or competing at arts festivals. The actors might be eager to take on a leading role in our annual musical or attempt a medal in the LAMDA classes we host. Those considering a teaching career or working with children might like to volunteer as ambassadors in our Prep School. And, as ever at St Jo’s, the sports enthusiasts will simply want to train, play and improve their personal bests whenever time allows.

Clubs, trips, visits and speakers are as important as ever for young people of this age group. Their academic work has become specialised and will be their focus but there are plenty of opportunities to add to their qualifications, learn new skills or simply add value to their leisure time. 

As grandees of the school, looked up to as role models, their participation is an encouragement to younger students, too. The confidence that comes with growing maturity now comes to the fore. A large number of Lower Sixth students take part in the annual hustings, pitching for senior prefect, and Deputy and Head Boy and Girls roles. It is also an annual delight to the St Joseph’s community to see the stars of the 1st XV taking to the stage in the musical show.