Enrichment is a huge part of life at St Mary Magdalene’s, and we encourage all of our students to get involved with as many extra-curricular opportunities as possible. These not only provide immense enjoyment but can also promote critical thinking and problem solving skills, improve student's ability to concentrate, and make learning more meaningful, valuable, and rewarding. This can then also help students to become more engaged in their learning and retain more information.
At St Mary Magdalene’s a minimum of one club is offered by each subject area, and each year the number of clubs grows as new and exciting clubs are proposed each year. These are run internally by staff and also by some external providers (e.g. Greenwich Dance).
Please see below for a list of some of the clubs we have been able to run so far. This list may alter slightly each year but demonstrates the wide variety of exciting opportunities available to our students. This also does not include the wide variety of sports clubs run by the P.E. department, for which different sports are offered to each year group each term.
- Science club
- Drama club
- ‘Count on us’ Maths club
- Cakes and bakes club
- Dance club
- Creative writing club
- Japanese cinema and culture club
- Philosophy club
- Gardening club
- Choir
- Steel pans
- Though provoking cinema club
The Brilliant Club
The Brilliant Club (TBC) is an award-winning university access charity, that works with a number of prestigious universities across the company, which exists to increase the number of students from underrepresented backgrounds progressing to highly selective universities. Specific students are selected for The Brilliant Club by their subject teachers.
TBC run two types of programmes within our school: The Scholars Programme and The Tutoring Programme. The Scholars Programme recruits, trains and places doctoral and postdoctoral researchers in schools to deliver programmes of university-style tutorials, which are supplemented by two university trips (when COVID-19 restrictions allow). The Tutoring Programme is a newer initiative begun in 2020, with the aim to re-engage and rebuild pupils’ confidence in core subjects by working with a subject expert. Both of these programmes try to enable students to access a future they deserve.
The Duke of Edinburgh Award (DofE)
The DofE Award is an amazing opportunity for students to experience different things, discover new interests and talents, and develop essential skills for life and work. The awards are widely recognised and respected by higher education, further education and employers.
Students can do a DofE programme at one of three progressive levels: Bronze, Silver and finally Gold Award. There are four sections to complete at Bronze and Silver level and five at Gold. They involve helping the community/environment, becoming fitter, developing new skills, planning, training for and completing an expedition and, for Gold only, working with a team on a residential activity.
Any young person can do their DofE – regardless of ability, gender, background or location. Achieving an Award isn’t a competition or about being first. It’s all about setting personal challenges and pushing personal boundaries. The Bronze award is first offered to students in Year 9.
The Jack Petchey Achievement Award Scheme
Jack Petchey Achievement Award winners are young people who have gone above and beyond to achieve – perhaps when others thought they might fail. Awards mean different things to different people. The Achievement Awards are not solely for academic achievement, and may be used to recognise a personal triumph for someone who has faced a challenge, a young person who has pushed themselves outside of their comfort zone or it may be an opportunity to recognise the outstanding efforts of a team player.
Each award winner receives a certificate, pin badge and a book from Sir Jack himself. They will also choose how to spend a £250 grant to benefit their school or organisation. Every Autumn term we are able to nominate two students, followed by another four students in the Summer term.