Junior School Co & Extra-Curricular

To enhance and enrich the curriculum, all year groups take advantage of our excellent location by visiting the many museums, galleries and landmarks that London and beyond has on offer. In addition, girls in Year 3 enjoy a one-night sleepover within the school grounds and the girls in Years 4, 5 and 6 have the opportunity to take part in a residential trip in order to develop their independence, confidence, resilience and collaborative skills.

There are many events held during the school year when we celebrate and share each other’s success. These include: Harvest Festival, Winter Concerts, Drama and Music Performances, Around the World Fortnight and Founders’ Day. In addition, the PE Team hosts a variety of events, which promote healthy competition, such as: Healthy Schools Week and an annual Sports Day.

The depth and range of our extra-curricular activities is one of the keys to our success. Over the course of the year, our girls take part in a fantastic array of artistic, dramatic, musical and sporting pursuits, of which every girl can find something that she enjoys. There is always a bustling atmosphere at Channing with clubs taking place before, during and after school. The clubs are designed to encourage our girls to try something new; to develop existing interests and skills; and build commitment and resilience. But above all, to have fun!

Our clubs vary slightly from term to term, which allows girls from Reception to Year 6 the opportunity to sign up for a new club three times a year. Examples of clubs include:

• Arts & Crafts
• Athletics
• Ballet
• Book Illustration
• Brass Ensemble
• Cheerleading
• Chess
• Choir
• Cooking
• Creative Writing
• Cricket
• Cross-Country Running
• Design Technology
• Drama
• Football
• Gardening
• Gymnastics
• Hockey
• Karate
• Languages
• Latin
• Lego & Construction
• Nature
• Netball
• Maths Puzzles
• Minecraft
• Music Technology
• Robotics
• Samba Band
• Science
• Swimming
• Tennis
• Touch Typing
• Virtual Reality
• Yoga

Our extra-curricular clubs are run by Channing staff, which includes Teaching Assistants, Form Teachers and specialist Music, PE, Art, Spanish, French and Drama Teachers. In addition, there are many after-school clubs led by external providers, which add to the wealth of activities on offer.

At Channing, we pride ourselves on developing the altruistic nature of our girls. Having an understanding of not just those less materially fortunate, but also the happiness that help can bring, is integral to building character. By exposing our girls to different charities from an early age, they learn that there are all kinds of people and life experiences in this world, and begin to see and truly understand those who are less fortunate than themselves.

We work with various charities, many local and often close to the heart of someone in the community, so that the girls can really engage with and understand the difference their help makes. To raise money, we use a range of enjoyable fundraising events including cake sales, fairs, discos, sponsored individual challenges, talent contests, fancy dress days and raffles. The girls even had the opportunity to be Miss Hamalis, Head of the Junior School for the day in order to raise money for Inspiring Girls International. Recent charities have included:Red for Ruth, Jacksons Lane, Marie Curie, NSPCC and Just One Tree. This fundraising runs alongside our regular food bank drives for the Alexandra Wylie Tower Foundation, which helps vulnerable adults and families with essential food parcels and clothing.

Additionally, we regularly support the Whittington Hospital and local care homes and work closely with the charity, Kissing it Better. The girls visit patients and residents, sing to them and send them cards and prepare concerts for them.

Our aim is to provide opportunities for the girls to try a range of different sports. The emphasis is on leading a healthy and active lifestyle whilst also developing a life-long learning for sport.

In addition to the clubs offered by our specialist PE staff, which include football, hockey, netball, cross country running and swimming to name just a few, we also utilise many external sports coaches. These clubs are run by specialists, who are experts in their field. Some examples of the recent clubs are: ballet, cheerleading, karate, gymnastics, street dance and tennis.

In Key Stage Two, the girls are also invited to participate in competitive fixtures against local schools in sports such as: football, cricket, netball, athletics and swimming, tag rugby, tennis and cross country. We are continuing to develop our links with local sports clubs, which has encouraged many of our pupils to join local teams and play outside of school.

The Music Department is a buzzing and exciting part of the school where we nurture, foster and encourage potential. Throughout the year, there are many musical opportunities to challenge and stimulate our girls, as well as for them to enjoy.

We have a comprehensive and systematic curriculum in place which includes ukulele and recorder playing as well as djembe drumming. Girls in Key Stage 1, have the opportunity to take part in a string group experience. We also provide extensive extra-curricular activities with our dedicated and specialist team of Visiting Music Staff. Ensembles include: brass, woodwind, strings and Years 4-6 Choir. Almost half of all Junior School girls enjoy weekly one-to-one music tuition and celebrate examination success with the Associated Board of the Royal School of Music (ABRSM). Year 6 pupils have previously secured places in the National Children’s Orchestra and at specialist Saturday morning music schools.

Performance opportunities

Every girl who learns an instrument, whether in school or externally, is given numerous opportunities to perform. These range from Year group Assemblies, Music Assemblies, Winter Productions, the Year 2 Performance, the Year 6 Production and the Summer Concert. Girls are also invited to play music in our weekly assembly.

There are many ensembles to participate in: Year 1 and 2 String Group; Wind Band; Brass Ensemble; Training String Orchestra; Key Stage 1 Choir; Year 3 and 4 Choir; and, for the more experienced musicians, the Spears Vocal Ensemble; Spears String Orchestra; and the String Quartet.