The landscape for learning at St Chris stretches well beyond the confines of the curriculum. One of the key founding principles of St Chris is the idea of education being a service and we have kept this at the heart of our wider school offering:
- Service to oneself through discovering a new passion, taking on a new challenge and looking after our mental and physical wellbeing.
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Service to our school community by taking on a leadership role, mentoring peers and passing on skills and knowledge.
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Service to our local community by getting involved in environmental projects, supporting local causes and making links with other young people in the area.
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Service to the global community by making connections, immersing ourselves in other cultures and advocating for human rights issues.
Senior School Clubs and Activities Transcends
A rich and diverse programme of lunchtime and after school clubs runs throughout the year, alongside an extensive programme of curriculum support and enrichment clubs. Pupil voice plays a key role in the development of our activities programme and we are constantly adding new activities based on evolving passions and interests. Whether it’s being part of a team on a football pitch; taking part in one of the many productions that happen throughout the year, both on or off stage; making music with friends; developing a robot to compete in a global competition; or spending time learning about and caring for animals at our ecocentre; we are keen for our students to explore new things, make new friends and develop new passions.
Trips and Visits
All subject departments are encouraged to offer day trips throughout the year for pupils across the school to enhance and enrich the curriculum. These can vary from museum trips, to theatre trips, to student conferences, to historic landmarks to name but a few. Being ideally located between the cities of London and Cambridge there is always somewhere interesting to go and something exciting to learn.
Residential Trips
At St Chris we absolutely believe in the magic of residential trips; these often form a core part of the memories young people take away from their school experience and the list of benefits is long and well proven: independence, resilience, social skills, confidence, engagement, life skills and self reliance are all things that are developed intrinsically when a young person participates in a residential trip. And that’s before you even leave the accommodation to see the world! In 2023 we ran 23 residential trips across all parts of the school and we have even more planned for 2024. Most of these trips are optional and take place in the school holidays wherever possible, with the exception of our Late Summer Programme which runs in the last week of the summer term for all Senior School pupils.
Co-Curricular: Beyond Classroom Walls
| Thursday Opportunities in the Senior School |
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| In the Senior School, Thursdays are dedicated to exploration through our Thursday Opportunities (Opps) programme. It's a mandatory part of the timetable where students choose from a diverse range of activities, encouraging them to discover and hone their interests and foster connections with likeminded people from across different year groups. As with our lunch and after school activities, Opportunities activities fall under three headings; Sports, Skills and Wellbeing and Social, with students given a free choice of how they wish to spend their time. |
| The Duke of Edinburgh's Award |
| The values at the heart of the Duke of Edinburgh's Award align strongly with our own values as a school and as such we like to throw ourselves into it wholeheartedly! The late Prince Philip described the award as a “do-it-yourself growing up kit” and we try to embed the values of independent decision making and self motivation throughout our DofE programme, while providing a strong safety net of supportive adults to help participants stay on track. Although participation in DofE is not compulsory, nearly all of our III Group pupils participate in the Bronze award with many then going on to pursue their Silver and then their Gold. |
| The Big Events: Celebrating Our Community |
| There are a huge number of events that take place throughout the school year to allow us to come together as a community and celebrate our students’ successes. From the Sports Awards Evening, to the Art Exhibition and a multitude of plays, concerts and recitals there is always something happening. However, the school year is also marked by three extra large events in which we try to involve our whole commuity: staff, students, parents and even other schools and organisations in our local community: the whole school musicial in the Autumn term; the recycled fashion show in the Spring term and our unique and St Christopalooza in the Summer term. |
| Inter-School Recycled Fashion Show: A Fusion of Art and Sustainability |
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One of the highlights in our vibrant arts scene is our annual Inter-School Recycled Fashion Show which has now surpassed its 28th year. This extraordinary event brings together nearly 100 entrants from local schools including The Knights Templar School, St Francis’ College, Hitchin Girls’ School and Whitehill Junior School alongside St Chris Junior and Senior School students. Students, forming design teams of one to four members, spend weeks designing and making costumes from an eclectic array of materials, turning everyday items into remarkable works of wearable art. Each year has a dedicated theme. 2020’s theme, "Truth to Power," inspired entrants to delve into pressing issues, from the climate crisis to the role of traditional media in society, and 2023’s theme “Reinvented”, encouraged students to stretch their creations beyond the realms of societal constructs and even their own imaginations. The creative process involves the use of diverse materials, ranging from newspapers and crisp packets to delivery packaging and live plants, showcasing not only artistic flair but also a dedication to sustainability. Our esteemed judging panel has featured fashion designer Bella Freud, communications design consultant Jonathan Miller, freelance costume maker and designer Laura Rose Moran-Morris, and award-winning decorative artist Fujiko Rose. Categories include Junior, Lower School, GCSE, and A level, with special mentions recognizing outstanding creativity. All costumes, masterpieces of sustainable fashion, are displayed in an exhibition in Letchworth town centre each year. This exhibition invites the community to appreciate the intersection of art, innovation, and eco-consciousness. |
Charitable Giving and Community Impact
What sets the Inter-School Recycled Fashion Show apart is its charitable focus. All proceeds generated from this remarkable event are donated to a charity nominated by St Chris pupils. Emphasizing our students’ dedication not only to artistic expression and sustainability but also to making a positive impact on the wider world.
Community Service and Charity Fundraising: Making a Difference
Beyond personal development, St Chris students actively engage in community service and charity initiatives. Recently collaborating with NOAH, a homelessness shelter, and Dogs on the Streets, our students passionately raised funds, embodying the values of empathy, compassion, and social responsibility.
St Chris Late Summer Programme Destinations 2024
The St Chris Late Summer Programme is the pinnacle of our extra-curricular calendar. In 2024, students will embark on a global adventure to destinations like Les Vosges, Morzine, Yorkshire, the Lake District, Loughborough Elite Sports Residential, New York, Malaysia, Brussels, and Barcelona.
Duke of Edinburgh Expeditions: Nurturing Resilience and Adventure
Outdoor expeditions, challenges, and adventures await those who embrace the Duke of Edinburgh Expeditions. It's a journey of self-discovery, fostering resilience, leadership, and a deep appreciation for the great outdoors.
