School Plus - Beyond the Classroom

Life at Durham School extends well beyond the classroom and there are many exciting opportunities to be grasped. Some of these are part of the school day, such as games, sport, music and drama, but we also offer a voluntary after-school activities programme with a huge variety of options and clubs to join from salsa dancing to soccer, from Italian to cookery, from current affairs to editing the school's newspaper. Beyond the classroom we offer all our pupils the opportunity to:

Participate in World Challenge expeditions to far-flung corners of the world.
To join our excellent Duke of Edinburgh Award programme, for which we have record numbers of Gold Award winners.
To join the Combined Cadet Force (CCF: Army, Navy or RAF section) which opens up a new range of exciting challenges and experiences including sailing, wind-surfing and flying experience as well as regular field days and annual camps.

Our sports teams regularly tour as far afield as Australia or the Far East.
Our languages department organises trips to Europe to help improve language skills.
Musicians enjoy music tours within the UK and to other European destinations such as Barcelona.
Geographers can enjoy our annual summer expedition to Iceland.
Historians can visit Berlin, Flanders and Normandy.
A wide range of academic societies exist to provide enriching intellectual opportunities: The Tristram Society organises lectures on themes of topical science given by experts in Chemistry, Physics, Medicine, biological science and engineering.

The Heretics Society organises lively debates on controversial topics to encourage lateral thinking, persuasive talking and mental dexterity.

The Politics Society arranges lectures and debates on topical issues with leading speakers from the world of politics and the media.

The Academic Society brings together students from many subjects to lend a multi-disciplinary perspective on major issues such as democracy, leadership and terrorism. The School Debating Society engages in regional and national competitions against other schools.

The Durham School Lecture Series runs every year with public lectures given by distinguished guests such as the Dean of Durham Cathedral, military generals, Durham University fellows, leading figures from public life and the media.
Additionally, in order to compliment work done in the classroom, many academic departments organise their own outings, such as visits to art galleries, theatres and the annual Classics excursion to nearby Hadrian's Wall. Houses also organise their own leisure outings. We even organise holiday activities, like our annual school skiing trip which is open to all. There really is a wealth of exciting possibilities.

"In less than a term, our daughter gained hugely in confidence and self-esteem and this in turn led to a huge improvement in her standard of work, helped by a very early (within 2 weeks) identification of the need for some learning support, which was implemented and within only a matter of weeks showing massive benefits The engagement in House musical activities, too, helped her build her self-assurance. In addition, the opportunities for games offered by the School mean that she has now played hockey for the school (she never achieved that in 8 years at her previous school) and has taken the opportunity to try rowing, a sport not even available previously. All this in only a few weeks!"
Mrs Neal, Parent