Brampton Road, St Albans, Hertfordshire AL1 4PR |
Extra-Curricular
We place great emphasis on learning outside the classroom at Verulam and seize every opportunity to get the boys out into the real world. The benefits are many: it promotes self-confidence; builds leadership skills; creates optimism; encourages team-work; teaches participants how to deal with risk; improves physical well-being; reduces stress and fosters a better understanding and respect for our environment. Timetabled lessons may be taught outside during the normal school day and our extensive extra-curricular programme offers students a multitude of opportunities.
Clubs & Societies
Beyond the classroom our rich co-curricular offer supports students on a journey of self-discovery. A diverse range of clubs and societies enriches, opening students’ minds to the endless possibilities that exist.
Although we educate bright students for bright futures, we value their happiness, encouraging them to realise their passions, understand their self-worth, and own their vulnerabilities, in order to unleash their potential.
As Shakespeare notes “Pleasure and action make the hours seem short.” The unique offer at Verulam ensures that students enjoy a range of opportunities that make their time here seem to fly by, and eagerly return each day to experience more.
Our Verulam community teaches and encourages students to be inclusive, celebrating both our differences whilst cherishing that which binds us together. Verulam is a school for all types of individuals, where all are celebrated and supported to thrive. In every sphere, we encourage students to broaden their horizons, and give them every opportunity to take flight. If a student has an interest that is not yet fulfilled, we’ll help them find a way of pursuing it.
Pupils are encouraged to join any clubs and societies that they are interested in and to explore new opportunities, regardless of previous experience. We also boast a range of links and partnerships within the local community, that enhance our co-curricular offer.
Our current timetable of lunchtime and after school clubs and societies can be found below.
Trips
Throughout their time at Verulam, students have a number of opportunities to participate in enrichment and curriculum based trips both in the UK and abroad. An example of the 2024-25 Trips calendar can be found below followed by further details on specific enrichment trips.
The Lake District
If you were to ask any Verulam student for a highlight of their time at the school, a common response would be the Year 7 Lake District trip. It one of our longest-standing traditions at Verulam, and has run for over forty years.
During the summer term, Year 7 travel to the Lakes accompanied by a team of Verulam staff. We stay right on the lake in Windermere and an action-packed itinerary follows, including orienteering, climbing, ghyll scrambling and kayaking. Many boys will undertake activities that they have never tried before. In the evenings, we find time for a trip to the cinema, pizza night, football and team games. It is a jam-packed, fun-filled schedule and the boys will return exhausted but energised by the new friendships they have made, the challenges they’ve overcome and with memories that will last far beyond their years at Verulam school.
Blue Peris
Our older students have the opportunity to undertake a residential trip to the Blue Peris Mountain Centre in North Wales.
Here they participate in a wide programme of outdoor activities ranging from ‘coasteering’ and clip-lining to mountain biking and climbing. Students spend time in small teams and develop friendships while challenging themselves physically and mentally. They are also given housekeeping duties and must be responsible and care for the activity specific equipment issued to them during their stay.
Skiing
The Verulam Ski Trip has been a firm fixture on the school’s calendar for over 25 years. During this time, we have travelled extensively throughout Europe and the United States. We aim to visit a different resort each year to ensure variety and renewed challenge for our regular trip-goers.
The trip takes place during the February half term holiday and is open to pupils in Years 8 to 11. We encourage pupils of all skiing abilities to join us – from absolute beginners to our competitive skiers. We offer a full programme of ski lessons in the Hemel Snow Centre in the weeks before our departure, and carefully select our destinations to ensure that great skiing is on offer to all levels of experience.
Our schedule allows for fantastic après ski too. Evening entertainment ranges from swimming and tobogganing, to bowling and quiz nights.
Aside from the obvious opportunity to improve their skiing ability, the ski trip offers our students the chance to experience a different country’s culture and to develop interpersonal skills and maturity whilst spending a week away from home. For many of our boys, the ski trip is an unforgettable highlight of their Verulam life, where many new friendships are forged and lifelong memories are made.
Duke of Edinburgh
HRH The Duke of Edinburgh first considered the idea of a national programme to support young people’s development in 1954, so that young people make the best use of their free time, find interests and acquire self-confidence and a sense of purpose that will support them into their future and help them to become well-rounded citizens.
The scheme is available to young people aged 14 to 24. There are three levels to achieve, Bronze, Silver and Gold, each comprising of four sections: Volunteering, Physical, Skills and Expedition, with an additional Residential section at Gold level. As the levels of the award are moved up some each section becomes more challenging in the amount of time taken to complete so that, by the Gold award, it will take over a year to gain. More information can be found at the award website.
At Verulam we have a long tradition with the Award that sees over 50% of those able to take up the award do so. The result is now that we are one of the largest and most successful units in the County. We have seen pupils; learn new skills like gardening, cooking and woodwork; take up new sports such as scuba diving, cycling and climbing; volunteer as young carers, sport coaches and conservationists. Below is information on our expedition visits which form the highlights for students, staff and parents alike.
Bronze Award
This entry level of the award sees students undertake expedition practice in The Chiltern Hills and expedition assessment in The New Forest.
Both these environments are easy to navigate whilst also allowing students to get the feeling of the outdoors. These are typically held in the summer term of year 10.
You need be at least 14 years old to start a Bronze programme. It will usually take you at least 6 months to complete your Bronze programme.
Volunteering section: 3 months
Physical section: 3 months
Skills section: 3 months
Expedition section: 2 days/1 night
You also have to spend an extra three months on one of the Volunteering, Physical or Skills sections. It’s your choice which one and, though you can change your mind later, you should decide which section you want to do for longer at the beginning. Knowing how long you’re going to do it for will help you to choose your activity and set your goals for each section.
Silver Award
As we move into the middle award, students are taken to The South Downs for the expedition and Isle of Purbeck for assessment.
These are two challenging environments in terms of navigation and endurance should the weather turn nasty! These expeditions are held in the autumn term of year 11.
You need to be at least 15 to start doing your Silver DofE programme. It will take you at least 6 months for Silver if you’ve already achieved your Bronze, or 12 months if you’ve jumped straight into Silver.
Volunteering section: 6 months
Physical and Skills sections: One section for 6 months and the other section for 3 months
Expedition section: 3 days/2 nights
If you didn’t do Bronze, you must undertake a further 6 months in either the Volunteering or the longer of the Physical or Skills sections. Though you can change your mind later, you should decide which section you want to do for longer at the beginning. Knowing how long you’re going to do it for will help you to set your aims for the sections.
Gold Award
Once you hit 16 you can do your Gold Award. The pinnacle of the award sees our students undertake the most rewarding and challenging experiences there is to offer.
In previous years expeditions have visited New Zealand, Morocco, Norway, Iceland and Corsica and this year sees us tackle Slovenia. Your Gold Award will take at least 12 months if you’ve achieved your Silver Award, or 18 months if you’ve started at Gold level without doing your Silver – even if you’ve done Bronze. The big difference at Gold is you’ll also do a Residential section – staying away from home for five days and four nights doing a shared activity with people you don’t know.
Volunteering section: 12 months
Physical and Skills sections: One section for 12 months and the other section for 6 months
Expedition section: 4 days/3 nights
Residential section: Undertake a shared activity in a residential setting away from home for 5 days and 4 nights.
If you didn’t do Silver, you must undertake a further 6 months in either the Volunteering or the longer of the Physical or Skills sections.
DofE Support and Training
For general Dofe help, visit their dedicated support portal by clicking here
Alternatively, there are some useful DofE training videos available on YouTube by clicking here.
