Enrichment

Our Commitment to You

At Strode College we are committed to your personal development. We try to ensure that most students have the opportunity to gain skills and enjoy sport and other activities alongside receiving the support you need to achieve qualifications which will take you further towards your career goals.

Taking part in a wide range of experiences and learning opportunities will make your time at Strode College much more enjoyable, increase your circle of friends and add another interesting dimension to your CV whether you are applying to university or going into employment.

Enrichment session times leaflet

 

Ensemble enrichment Creative & Performance Arts

Choir If you enjoy singing and have eclectic music tastes, the Strode College Choir provides the outlet for you to join like-minded people in making music and singing.

College Ensemble
An exciting opportunity for string, woodwind, brass, percussion and rhythm section players to experience a wide musical repertoire. A rock band may also be possible if there is sufficient interest.

Digital Photography
Whether you’re new to digital photography or want to improve your existing skills, this 12 week course will develop your ability to create and share digital images. If you’re just starting out, you’ll be able to compare notes with many other people in the same situation. If you’re already a keen amateur digital photographer, being part of an active online community will develop your fluency. Visually focused, the course will develop your technical, visual and creative skills. A series of hands-on activities allows you to practice the skills you’ll learn.

Film Making Workshop
This is an opportunity to work with varied media such as film, video, radio and multimedia to create a media product of your choice. No previous experience is necessary, just a willingness to work creatively and explore new technologies.

Jazz Band
The Jazz Group is a weekly rehearsal workshop where students are given standard jazz repertoire and encouraged to develop their improvisation skills. The group is open to practising musicians across a range of abilities who want to gain experience of playing and gigging in a small group jazz line up.

A rock band may also be possible if there is sufficient interest.

Music Technology
Always fancied creating your own music? Play, mix down and record your ideas, burn on to CD and produce your very own track! Great fun.

Strode College Music Academy 1:1 Tuition
Instrumental or vocal tuition can be added to your learning programme. Charges apply, but a scholarship exists which provides tuition at a reduced rate for those who take part in at least one college musical ensemble and contribute to shows and performances.

Theatre Company
Enjoy the opportunity to work with other like-minded individuals in planning and participating in technical and performance opportunities within College productions and preparing pieces for potential inclusion in national drama and arts festivals. The main focus of the Theatre Company will be the College musical, so actors, singers and dancers are all welcome. Students who want to assist with backstage support are also very welcome.

 

Employability Skills

First Aid
This certified first aid course includes lots of practical exercises to give you confidence in dealing with a real life emergency.

Food Hygiene
This course is suitable for everyone involved in food preparation and service or anyone with an interest in food, including those working in a voluntary capacity or child care.

 

Languages

 

Spanish GCSE
This is a one year course that will enable you to learn core vocabulary and expressions which can then be used in any Hispanic country.

 

Personal Development

Cooking on a Budget
This course will help students cook nutritious meals on a limited budget and still have a feast! This is particularly useful for those students about to enter into self catering accommodation such as university accommodation.

Creative Writing
This stimulating 10 week course is suitable if you are a complete beginner or if you have tried to write but lack confidence to develop your ideas. You will start with some exercises to develop creativity and then move on to look at editing, the basics of plot, character and setting. You will also work on topics such as where best to begin your story, the use of memorable detail and how to lay out dialogue. You should be willing to share work with  others in the group but you won’t be expected to read your work aloud. The course focuses
on the writing of prose (novels and short stories) rather than poetry.

Debating Society
“You’ve got more rabbit than Sainsbury’s - why don’t you get it off your chest…”

...but remember, debating is not just about sounding off - you have to be able to formulate logical coherent arguments and relay them in a persuasive manner - sometimes when you don’t actually believe in what you are saying!

Debating is great for developing confidence, thinking skills and public speaking ability - it’s is a ‘must-do’ activity for anyone interest in applying to top universities or considering a career in politics or the media.

Dinghy Sailing
Sailing is a popular sport enjoyed by people as young as five and many sailors are still participating well in to their 70's. You learn a set of skills which essentially can be applied in a wide range of sail boats: large/small, fast and leisurely. A Start Sailing course should cost around £50. You need to be confident in the water when wearing a buoyancy aid and ideally should be able to swim 25 metres.

Duke of Edinburgh's Award
The Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme gives all young people the chance to develop skills for work and life, fulfil their potential and have a brighter future. At Strode we aim to support our students in gaining the Gold Award where you will be able to complete a series of tasks such as volunteering, developing a new skill, undertaking physical activity, a residential activity and of course, completing a four day expedition. Other Strode College enrichment activities can be used to complete some of the DofE tasks.

European Film Club
“Non, je ne regrette rien...”

...but you might do if you miss out on European Film Club. Whether your interest is in modern foreign languages, film, media or just impressing your friends with your in depth knowledge of Truffaut, European Film Club is for you.

 

Learn to Row
Fine rowing is a fun and friendly sport. Most universities have rowing squads and there are boatclubs in towns and cities across the world - so if you are planning to go to University or move away to work - knowing how to row can help you make new friends.

The six week 'Learn to Row' course will cost approximately £50. To participate you must be able to swim 50 metres clothed and five metres under water.

 

Strode Student Newspaper

Are you an aspiring 'journo’ or just interested in writing, sport, the arts or current affairs?

Strode Student Newspaper provides great opportunities to develop your skills and build your CV. A variety of roles are available, for example:

  • Editorial Team
  • Specialist Reporters eg: Arts, Sports, World, Politics
  • Guest Writers
  • Photographers
  • Designers

We are looking for people with creative flair but who also can work to deadlines and enjoy being part of a team. 

 

Gambia Project

Please see the Gambia Project page for more information.

 

Course Trips

Please see the Course Trips page for more information.

 

TennisSports & Outdoors

Sport is a way of developing and maintaining a healthy body and mind.

You have... an opportunity to take part in a full range of individual and group sports.
You get... special discounts at two local sports centres with swimming pools.
We cater for... all levels of proficiency.

Indoors

Sports Hall
Our large fully air-conditioned Sports Hall houses all sorts of activities from football to trampolining to traversing our climbing wall. Refreshments, showers and lockers are all available.

Fitness Suite
For £25 per year students can join our state-of-the-art fitness suite which is situated in our Sports Hall. Instructors are available to help with workouts and for students the fitness suite is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5.30pm.

Outdoors

Enjoy access to our 3G floodlit All Weather Pitch, cricket nets, four new tennis courts and large playing fields.

Outdoor activities take place on Wednesday afternoons, giving students the opportunity to take part in climbing, caving and expedition planning. We also run the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme.

Sports available...

  • Badminton
  • Basketball
  • Climbing (Indoor)
  • Dodgeball
  • Fitness sessions (Combat, Circuits, Aerobics, Balance, Boot Camp, Zumba and Street Dance)
  • Martial Arts - Judo/Karate
  • Men's and Women's Football
  • Men's Rugby
  • Multisports (Indoor Hockey, Frisbee, Handball, Indoor Football)
  • Netball
  • Self Defence
  • Table Tennis
  • Tennis
  • Trampolining
  • Volleyball

 

Dance Studio

A fully sprung, newly built dance studio opened in 2011, this area provides excellent facilities for a range of dance and martial arts, yoga and various fitness classes.

 

Sports Development Squads

Please see the Sports Academies page for more information.