Co-Curricular
ENDLESS OPPORTUNITIES
Co-Curricular
Thomas’s was founded on breadth of co-curricular activity as a guiding principle. The College maintains that tradition with an extraordinary range of activity and opportunity for students to discover new interests and take their passions as far as they can go.
We have eight main strands of co-curricular life across art, dance, design, drama, music, sport, clubs and trips. We are wholly committed to helping students see these activities as central to their lives at school, not additional. While creative activity allows for self-expression for everyone, which is wonderful on its own terms, it can also lead to lifelong careers in the UK’s world-leading creative industries. Likewise, sport can enhance the experience of school, but if we get it right, go on to become key to a fulfilled and healthy life.
We operate significant partnerships in all areas of co-curricular activity. We have agreements with the Orange Tree Theatre and the Duke’s Meadows Tennis Centre, with further partnerships to extend the scope of what we do in development.
Explore our Clubs Programme here.
Our magnificent dedicated sports ground supports our programme of major sports, including football, netball, hockey, rugby sevens, cricket, tennis and athletics. There is also huge choice across our sports and club programmes, from rowing to golf to tennis to climbing to horse-riding and much else besides. Thomas’s students often represent the school and many are involved in club, regional and national competition.
The Tennis Pathway
We offer a unique opportunity for young tennis players looking to break through to the national and international circuit: a combined academic and tennis excellence pathway with Duke’s Meadows Tennis Centre. Students follow a demanding and rewarding programme of training at the Centre with transport to the College allowing them to maintain their academic and social life. The aspiration is to create a shared squad of players who will aim to compete for the highest honours in tennis. Click here for more details.
We have a dedicated sprung-floor dance studio and dance across a plethora of styles will always be a major element of Thomas’s life, encouraging self-expression and activity in equal measure.
There are three on-site performance spaces and an ambitious programme of drama exposing young people to acting, directing, design across set, lighting, sound and costume, choreography, devising and text. We also run a major partnership with Richmond’s world-class and renowned Orange Tree Theatre, supporting their sector-leading community programmes, and giving students access to professional experts and facilities.
From performances in our lovely Recital Hall to the range of choirs, ensembles and orchestras across classical and contemporary music, this is a huge part of life at school. It is impossible to move around our campus without hearing singing or instrument practice. The music and drama teams also collaborate on regular musical performances.
We are so fortunate to have a dedicated School for Design, with practical workshops and a design studio and Mac Suite exploiting the potential of digital and computer-aided design.
There are three principal art labs exploring media across 2D and 3D, with a hugely popular pottery room and kiln. Students produce breathtaking work in so many disciplines and continue to access art throughout their time at school, no matter what their curriculum choices.
We run over 60 clubs exploring everything from spoon-carving to Greenpower racing – students building and racing their own car – to Model UN and robotics. Our clubs programme is truly the epitome of our commitment to breadth of experience. And if a student has a passion and they can’t see it represented, we’ll help them get a club of their own off the ground.
Clubs are organised into academic, physical, skill and volunteering and integrate with our outdoor education programme. There really is something for everyone!
The highlight of many students’ time at school, our programme of trips can take young people all around the UK and the world over their time with us. There are ski trips, sports tours, music, art and drama tours, history, politics, geography – such a plethora – and we carefully manage trips to ensure affordability and access to as many students as possible.
We also run residentials in the Years 7, 8, 9, 10 and 12, which link to AWE: our remarkable programme of Outdoor Learning and Adventure.
Co-curricular passion is recognised in our programme of Master’s Awards: scholarships available in a wide range of disciplines and activities. Master’s Awards include a reduction in fees and access to dedicated programmes to ensure that young people’s passions achieve the fullest expression while they are with us. More information is available via our Admissions pages.
We are impressed with how the college has balanced academic push with sports and co-curricular activities while embedding strong values and discipline.
— Thomas’s College Parent
