Enrichment | Notre Dame School

While the focus of our sixth form is academic study, we recognise the importance of producing well-rounded individuals with a range of interests.

Performing Arts

Our music and drama facilities, including our 350-seater professional theatre, are second to none and we encourage you to get involved in extra-curricular music and drama. This could include roles in the school play and the direction of the end-of-term Talent Show as well as performing in the various music and choral events through the year. In addition to extracurricular clubs, the sixth form also have the chance to undertake performing arts qualifications such as LAMDA.

Sports

At Notre Dame we believe that physical and mental health go hand in hand and all our Sixth Form students are encouraged to participate in an engaging and fun sporting programme. This varies from term to term and includes group activities such as volleyball, aqua aerobics, swimming, yoga, badminton, pilates, zumba and mindfulness. In addition, you will have access to our brand-new strength and conditioning fitness suite to exercise in a non-competitive environment. Our students will be supported to pursue excellence in their chosen sport and are able to take part in team sports such as netball and hockey; we provide a series of fixtures with local schools throughout the year. Top level support is provided for elite athletes.

Trips

There are some great trips in ND6, which typically offer an educational element, new experiences, adventure and usually some shopping! These have recently included New York/Washington, Christmas market/ Disneyland Paris, Florence/Venice, NASA Space Centre, a ski trip and sports tours. There is also a multitude of educational trips and residentials, including lectures, masterclasses, field trips, gallery, museum and theatre visits and academic challenges.

Duke of Edinburgh Award

Many of our girls continue with the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme in Sixth Form and work towards both their Silver and Gold awards, supported by our Duke of Edinburgh coordinator.

Green Committee

The green committee is a Sixth Form led initiative to promote sustainability within the school. The Sixth Form students play a vital role in running the green committee council and implementing change to better protect our environment.

ND6 have their own garden and grow and maintain a number of produce. They support the lower years in our weekly gardening club.

Prefects

Prefects are elected by both staff and students and this role is highly regarded and important to our school community. The role of a Prefect is a varied one; one that carries a lot of respect and responsibility. Each prefect is assigned a year group to work with throughout their time in the role, acting as a supportive role model and facilitating student voice.

THE ROLE OF A PREFECT IS A VARIED ONE; ONE THAT CARRIES A LOT OF RESPECT AND RESPONSIBILITY.

Prefect Roles

Together with the Head and Deputy Head Girl, the prefects are responsible for leading the school council. Student voice is extremely important to us here at Notre Dame and with this in mind, we have a participatory budget scheme within the Sixth Form. That is, prefects together with the student council have a percentage of the school budget which they can spend as they wish to better improve the school and its community.

PILLARS

Through PILLARS, we aim to foster growth in areas such as personal skills, independence, leadership, aspirations, relationships, and spiritual exploration. PILLARS encapsulates ‘education’ in its broadest and truest sense: it opens the students’ minds to the range of possibilities that the world offers in terms of interests, careers, political views, religious beliefs, philosophical outlook, higher education, health and practical life skills. The fact that the subject is not examined at Notre Dame means that a spirit of genuine exploration can be generated, rather than a rigid or functional approach.

Young Enterprise

The Young Enterprise Scheme (YES) is an educational programme designed to inspire and equip young people with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to succeed in business. At Notre Dame School, students can be part of the Young Enterprise team in Year 12. The scheme involves students setting up and running their own real businesses for a year under the guidance of business mentors.