Co-Curricular Choice
The co-curricular provision at Monkton grows the whole person in astounding ways and in the Sixth Form, the choices are very much in your hands.
Co-curricular activities are proven to enhance academic performance, especially when students engage in them in their school community, and our students thrive in the combination of academic excellence and co-curricular opportunity.
SPORT
For many, the focus remains on team sports, with our students pushing themselves to reach the top teams and pouring their energy into rugby, rowing, hockey, netball, tennis, cricket and athletics. In our main sports we usually have three to four teams, and so whatever your level, there is a team for you.
For others Sixth Form offers the opportunity to pursue other ways to be active, from swimming to squash, badminton to basketball, golf, running and padel to strength & conditioning and more. Wherever your passion lies, our highly experienced sports department, spearheaded by our Heads of Sport will help you grow and develop, enhanced by professionals from Bath Rugby, Bath Buccaneers Hockey and Team Bath Netball, providing expertise and inspiration across our sports programme.
The choice of which sports to pursue is up to you, and our students relish the opportunities on offer.
To support your development, you will have access to our own gym and bespoke Strength and Conditioning programmes, supported by excellent coaches from our own staff.
PERFORMING ARTS
Monkton’s performing arts programme becomes even richer in Sixth Form.
Encompassing Drama, Music and Media, there is a place for all to get involved, from the first-time actor to the seasoned Grade 8 musician.
DRAMA
In Drama, there are a host of opportunities on stage, in set design, tech teams, writing and stage crew and you will have the chance to pursue them to the highest standards.
| Wild Drama |
| Our summer term open-air play has become a beloved fixture in the performing arts calendar, with its unique blend of dedicated drama students and pupils who step well beyond their comfort zone and discover talents they did not know they had, whether writing, directing or performing. |
| School Productions |
| The extraordinarily high production values in these have to be experienced to be believed. Every year the Performing Arts department outdoes itself. You will have the chance to take the lead in these, both literally, in terms of acting roles, set design and tech, as you create amazing performances together. Recent highlights include a truly entertaining Pride & Prejudice, the spectacular Into the Woods and a triumphant Much Ado About Nothing. |
| Touring Theatre |
| In the Year 12 enrichment programme, you can choose to join Monkton’s Touring Theatre; writing, directing, rehearsing and performing an original piece of theatre to take to a variety of primary schools in the region. This immersive experience is an extraordinary way to learn all that goes into a production and develop your skills and leadership abilities in the process. |
| Nurturing Talent |
Whatever your performance level, there are regular opportunities to perform in smaller, informal settings, either to hone a particular piece or as a first step onto the stage, through our LAMDA Live! Programme. And for budding writers, join our Monkton Audio Drama workshops to discuss, hone and grow your craft. |
MUSIC
Alongside our broader ensembles, like Orchestra and Chapel Choir, in which our most able musicians begin to take the lead, both in setting the tone and in performance, we create bespoke ensembles around our musicians, whether Chamber Choir, Brass or String Quartets, and offer opportunities for leadership through co-curricular mentoring, or heading up an ensemble, such as Gospel Choir.
MEDIA
The faculty’s media opportunities are flourishing, offering weekly sessions in our superb studios and teaching podcast audio production. We live-stream every Performing Arts event, often in multi-camera format, giving our students the chance to work the cameras and direct shows, overseen by our expert team. Recent projects have included writing and recording audio dramas, becoming interviewers at Band Night for the live stream and many more.
Performing Arts Futures
As well as engendering a love of the arts and developing life skills such as creativity and self-confidence, Monkton’s most passionate artists have gone on to study at a wide range of leading institutions from The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and LAMDA, to BIMM and Surrey University, pursuing performance, set design, costume design and many other courses.
Outdoors
We recognise the importance of spending time outdoors, away from screens and close to nature in order to help support our students’ mental health. This is something our students experience daily in the beautiful Monkton valley, and we also create opportunities to expand this vital component of wellbeing.
| Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award |
Although taking part is voluntary, a large proportion of Year 12 students work hard to achieve their Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award, with expeditions to Snowdonia and the Alps. Our dedicated Duke of Edinburgh team will support you as you fulfil the five sections of the Gold Award and many of our students head to Buckingham Palace to receive their award. |
| Field Days |
Twice a year the whole school heads outside to make the most of our beautiful valley (and beyond). Year 12s head in a variety of directions to further enhance their enrichment programme and Year 13s set off to conquer Pen-y-Fan in the Brecon Beacons. |
| Combined Cadet Force (CCF) |
| Year 12s can apply to be non-commissioned officers, providing a superb opportunity to develop leadership skills as they learn to lead a group of Year 12s, with support from our CCF staff. |
Sixth Form Enrichment
For Year 12 students, the enrichment programme is your chance to specialise. From a range of exciting options, you choose the area you want to pursue for the year, to go deeper and excel. Weekly sessions give you time to explore, hone and develop a skill.
Choose from Golf, Sustainability, Ceramics, Sailing, Bouldering, Touring Theatre, Model United Nations and our own Culinary School, led by our incredible school chefs. Alternatively, you could develop your leadership as a Non-Commissioned Officer in CCF or learn sports leadership coaching younger pupils at Monkton Prep.
If you have a particular future career in mind, you can pursue regular work experience in that field.
Our bi-annual Field Days provide the opportunity to take this a step further for the entire day, whether you are a golfer using a simulator and having a lesson with a pro, the sustainability team enjoying a day out kayaking, or the Culinary School on a field trip to local bakeries and restaurants.
In Year 13, to support your academic progress, extra time is given to study periods, as you prepare for A Level exams.
