Extra-curricular Activities
"The more you put into life - the more you get out of it"
We expect our pupils to work hard to the best of their ability but, at the same time, to enjoy the experiences and opportunities available to them. At The Swinton High School we offer a rich and varied curriculum, extending beyond the requirements of the National Curriculum.
There is an extensive range of extra-curricular activities offered to the pupils, including regular foreign excursions and field trips.
We believe that this can all add to the quality of life at our school and hope parents will encourage their children to ‘take part’.
Study Support
There are a number of Study Support Clubs aimed at raising achievement. These include a wide range of subjects, coursework, examination help and revision classes. Homework club is held every Monday - Thursday from 3:15pm to 3:45pm. Learning mentors offer help and guidance.
Out of School Activities
Many activities are arranged that not only widen pupils’ learning experiences but make school life more enjoyable. Theatre, cinema, concert, museum and factory visits are made during and after school hours. Relevant exhibitions will be visited and outside speakers invited into school to talk on various subjects. Annual trips/exchanges abroad are also organised.
Extra curricular activities include: Book club, Computer club, Library club, Chess club, Animal club, Sport, Music, Art, Dance and Drama. The PE and Performing Arts departments take a full and active part in extra-curricular life and offer an enormous range of after school activities.
Drama and Performing Arts
Pupils can undertake tuition to receive LAMDA certification in Acting. The examination fee is heavily subsidised and tuition fees are based on two people for 40 minutes.
For the past ten years there has been a production of a full scale musical. The whole school gets involved with many pupils not only taking part on stage but backstage as well. Recent productions include:
2001: On the Beat
2001: Circle of Life
2002: Sister Act
2003: Carnival de Swinton
2003: Greatest Show on Earth
2004: The Tempest, Dracula & Lunch in Venice
2005: The Rocky Monster Show
2006: West Side Story
We have also been involved in a number of concerts and trips, higlights of which include:
London trip to see Billy Elliott
Pendleton College Partnership
‘Emma’ Theatre in Education
Belgium trip
as well as numerous concerts and performances in school.
Community Work
As a specialist college for the performing arts, we have a commitment to providing opportunities in music, drama and dance in the community. We work very closely with our link primary schools, and many pupils have had the opportunity to work with our staff on a variety of projects. In particular, pupils in year 5 work on a project entitled “The Haunted House”, which brings together dance, drama and music.
In the wider community, we support targeted groups by providing activities such as music technology and dance/drama for communication and confidence building skills.
We are also linked to a local special school and have provided steel pan tuition for their pupils.
Music
There are many extra-curricular activities which go on in the Music Department:
Instrumental Ensemble | Ensemble Singers
Steel Pan Groups | Keyboard Club
Technology Group | Senior Choir
New members are always welcome to join any of these groups.
Many of these groups regularly perform in the local community, and have performed in and around the Greater Manchester area at concert venues and various festivals. In addition the steel pans, along with other performing arts students have undertaken a number of foreign concert tours - in 2006 to Belgium.
Pupils have the opportunity to learn musical instruments. Brass, String, Piano, Keyboard, Woodwind, Guitar, Percussion, Vocal and Steel Pan Tuition is available at a subsidised rate. (For further information please contact the school.)
In 2005/2006 the music department held, and was involved in, a number of events, most notably The Rocky Monster Show and the Music Showcase Competition. The Steel Pans performed at a number of events and in so doing also raised money for the school.
The Music department obviously has a large input into the musical productions and school assemblies. This offers pupils an opportunity to experience public performance and to combine their musical skills with those of Drama and Dance.
All youngsters with an ability or interest in music are encouraged to involve themselves in any of the wide ranging musical activities on offer to them and to experience the enjoyment of music.
The Music Department is always open at lunchtimes and after school for pupils to rehearse and for GCSE pupils to work on coursework tasks.
Dance
Pupils can be involved in one of the dance clubs as an extra curricular activity. The tuition given will compliment any extra dance lessons that pupils have beyond school life.
2006 performances in dance include:
The Music Showcase and Cabaret Evening
Easter and Summer Assemblies
The Lowry Dance Festival
Sport for All
The excellent sports facilities allow a wide range of different activities to take place. As an individual you can experience keep fit, or with a friend play badminton and table-tennis and if being part of a team is important to you, then at The Swinton High School you will be adequately catered for through our programme of extra-curricular activities.
Sports Activities include –
Football, Rugby, Netball, Cross Country, Five-a-side Football, Badminton, Volleyball, Basketball, Table Tennis, Dance, Gymnastics, Orienteering, Aerobics, Rounders, Athletics and Softball.
Sports teams are entered in the Salford Schools League and rally competitions in a variety of sports.