Co-Curriculum in the Prep School - St Albans High School For Girls

Give it a go!

With around 70 clubs on offer to pupils, there is ample opportunity for our girls to extend themselves, develop their talents and explore new interests.

Music

We offer over 100 individual instrumental lessons each week in our Performing Arts Centre, helping develop talented and accomplished musicians with a deep love of music. Pupils achieve high grades in external music examinations, and some are awarded instrumental or choral scholarships as they move on to Year 7. We have very popular orchestra, brass, jazz, guitar, recorder and string ensembles, and four large choirs from Years 1 to 6. Close links with the Senior School Music Department bring great opportunities: pupils from Reception to Year 13 take part in the STAHS Young Musician of the Year Competition and our most accomplished musicians join the Townsend or Ringwood Bands, Intermediate Orchestra or Junior Chamber Choir at the Senior School.

Creative arts

Our co-curricular offering covers a vast range of creative arts, from sketchbooking to street dance, and from musical theatre to textiles and fabric club, with many girls also achieving highly in the LAMDA (London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts) exams.

Sport

We are both successful and inclusive when it comes to sport. We make the most of our extensive grounds, with our cross country and orienteering courses, three netball courts, sports pitches and multi-purpose gym. Pupils represent the School in numerous competitive fixtures and tournaments. We support and develop some very able sportspeople and were recent national finalists in netball, football, gymnastics and swimming.

Sample Club Timetable

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
Cookery	Art open studio	Football	Card games	Car racing club
Netball	Cheer	Humanities hub	Creative writing	French
Wild woodland	Craft and origami	STEAM club	Modern board games	Relaxation yoga
Musical theatre	Puzzle club	Art of Science	Book club	Lacrosse

Trips and visits

Our extensive trips programme, including visits to the theatre, historic buildings, exhibitions, places of worship and nature reserves, helps bring learning to life and provides a practical context to lessons. From Year 3, all girls take part in an annual residential trip. During these exciting adventures, the pupils make lifelong memories, develop their resilience and learn how to embrace new opportunities as they spend an increasing number of days away from home and exploring other parts of the UK with their friends.

Year 3	Pupils spend a night at Rootd Adventure in Hertfordshire, where they try their hand at nature study and bushcraft.
Year 4	The girls camp overnight in roundhouses at Celtic Harmony, near Hertford, supporting their history learning while having a fun two days with their friends.
Year 5	Pupils spend three days at Manor Adventure in Norfolk, engaging in challenging outdoor activities such as kayaking, fencing and aeroball.
Year 6	In their final Prep residential, pupils spend four nights on the Isle of Wight. Through gently increasing the level of challenge in a secure and caring environment, they develop in both independence and self-confidence.

Split image: left side with yellow background and words describing girls’ school as adventurous, enthusiastic, competitive, compassionate, and creative; right shows a girl in a helmet and the text “Think you know girls’ schools? Discover our co-curriculum in the prep school.”.

Two young girls with glasses and plaits concentrate on writing with pencils while lying on the floor, surrounded by classmates and sheets of paper—a glimpse into the vibrant co-curriculum in the prep school classroom.

CREATIVE WRITING AND IMAGINATION CLUB

Girls in Year 1 and 2 take part in a range of interactive activities, allowing them the opportunity to explore new vocabulary and use their imagination to craft pieces of writing in various genres. They also work on their presenting skills by sharing ideas and pieces of writing with the group.

I enjoy how you use your imagination to create a story

Amara, Year 2

Four pupils in school uniforms sit around a table in a classroom, enjoying a board game. This lively scene highlights the co-curriculum in the prep school, as one girl smiles and reaches for a counter while others watch and take part.

MODERN BOARD GAMES CHALLENGE

Forget Monopoly and Cluedo, Modern Board Games Challenge introduces Year 5 and 6 pupils to new and exciting games filled with tactical thinking and cut-throat strategy.

The challenge and humour of Modern Board Games makes it an enjoyable club to take part in.

Elina, Year 5

A young girl in a school uniform holds up her index finger while discussing co-curricular activities in the prep school with another pupil in a classroom decorated with yellow stars and purple flowers.

BRITISH SIGN LANGUAGE

In British Sign Language club, Year 5 and 6 girls learn some basic signs to help them communicate with deaf, hard of hearing people, or anyone else who uses BSL!

I love how I learn how to sign and speak another language

Audrey, Year 6

A group of schoolchildren in sports kit stand on a grassy field, some balancing discs on their heads, illustrating the co-curriculum in the prep school as a coach hands a plate to a smiling girl. A large building and trees are visible in the background.

ULTIMATE FRISBEE

An exciting, non-contact team sport which demands its players develop razor-sharp throwing skills, stamina and agility.

I enjoyed being included, being encouraged and having fun while learning.

Katherine, Year 6

A young child with blonde hair draws on a large sheet of white paper, illustrating a tree with red faces and writing the words

PHILOSOPHY FOR CHILDREN

In Philosophy for Children, girls in Years 1 and 2 are offered an opportunity to think outside the box and develop independent thought patterns; group discussion follows its own path guided by the children’s thoughts and ideas.

I think it is really good, especially the books.

Freya, Year 1

ARCHERY

The archery club provides Year 6s with a solid introduction to archery, with sessions focussed on how to use the equipment correctly, and tips on improving basic shooting and aiming techniques.

I love archery. The thrill of the competition is highly enjoyable.

Avika, Year 6

Four children in matching sports kits, part of the co-curriculum in the prep school, work on a homemade soapbox car outdoors while another child in a helmet sits inside. They are focused and surrounded by grass and trees.

A teacher and four young girls sit at a table in a bright classroom, smiling and working on crafts with felt-tip pens and fabric—a lively snapshot of the co-curriculum in the prep school. Art supplies and colourful projects are scattered on the table.

A smiling girl in a navy and yellow sports kit holds a fencing sword in a gymnasium, showcasing the vibrant co-curriculum in the prep school as other children join in fencing activities around her.

Six smiling girls wearing colourful jackets and hoodies stand on a pebbled beach near the shoreline, enjoying time together as part of the co-curriculum in the prep school, with a long pier and seaside building in the background under a cloudy sky.

Four children in blue and yellow shirts play football on a grassy pitch at a prep school. One child in blue runs with the ball as others chase, while a photographer stands near trees and a fence in the background.

A youth orchestra, part of a comprehensive prep school curriculum, performs on stage led by a conductor. Pupils play various string instruments as the audience watches and colourful lights illuminate the background.

Three children wearing blue helmets and casual clothes smile in front of a high ropes course—a highlight of the co-curriculum in the prep school. Other kids climb in the background, surrounded by trees and woodchip ground on a sunny day.

A teacher and a group of schoolchildren stand in a classroom using sign language together, as part of the co-curriculum in the prep school. The pupils are smiling and engaged, with green plants and large windows in the background.

A group of young girls in striped prep school uniforms and colourful flower leis sing together on stage, smiling and standing in rows during a performance.

A person sketches an animal and plant design on paper with a pencil, inspired by colourful animal artwork on a tablet—an artistic activity often found in the co-curriculum in the prep school.

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Give it a go!

Prep

Senior

Sixth