Students playing sports

Extra Curricular Activities

St. Hilda’s offers a wide range of Extra-Curricular Activities which seek to cater for a range of interests and abilities.  There is something on offer for everyone.

Sport

Football

Girls from Form III upwards are offered the chance to develop their football skills with George Lappas, a UEFA licence qualified football coach.

Summer Sports Club

Summer Sports Club consists of Athletics and Cricket and is held in the Summer Term and is for each year group from Form III upwards.

 

Tennis

Coaching is offered to all girls from Reception to Form VI.  The club is run by Jon Meredith, a Level 5 LTA coach.

Gymnastics

Gymnastics is offered to all girls from Reception to Form V.  The club is run by Debbie Ridgeway, a British Gymnastics Coach.

Dance

Girls from Reception upwards are invited to participate in a Dance Club, run by BeaTz Dance Company.

Fencing

Fencing is offered as an extra-curricular activity after school for Forms II –VI and is run by the Paul Davis Fencing Academy.

Table Tennis

Table Tennis club occurs during a break time once a week and is available for children in Forms III, IV and V.

Netball

Forms III, IV, V and VI have the opportunity to participate in a netball club after school. Matches are played against local state and independent schools in the Autumn and Spring terms.

Yoga

Yoga is availible for all years and is run by Tilly’s Dance Factory.

Music

One-to-One Instrumental Lessons

We have a team of Visiting Music Teachers who are able to offer the girls in Forms I-VI one-to-one lessons in specific instrumental studies. The girls can receive lessons in the following disciplines:

  • Piano
  • Voice
  • Upper Strings (violin/viola)
  • Lower Strings (cello/mini double bass)
  • Woodwind (recorder/flute/clarinet/saxophone)
  • Brass (cornet/trumpet/trombone/french horn)
  • Drums

Please refer to the music handbook for more details or do get in touch with the Director of Music if you require more details.

Music Theory

A range of ABRSM music theory classes are held each week. The classes cater for beginners, right up to Grade V. A small termly fee is charged for attending these groups.

Senior Choir

Senior Choir meets weekly during lunchtime. Membership is open to children in Forms V-VI and a high level of commitment to attend is expected.

Junior Choir

Junior Choir is a fun weekly singing group, held during a morning break.

Showtime Singers

Showtime Singers welcomes all keen singers from Forms III and IV. Rehearsals take place weekly during a morning break.

Orchestra

Orchestra is held weekly after school and any pupil from Form IV upwards, learning an instrument either in or outside of school, is expected to join when they are Grade 1 standard. Pianists are welcome to play percussion instruments in orchestra. Those who are not Grade 1 or are in Form II or III are encouraged to join Wind Band or String Group as preparation for Orchestra.

Recorders

All pupils learn to play the recorder in Form II. A recorder is provided for use in school and parents are asked to provide one at home for practice – these can be bought through the school. Two lunchtime recorder groups are available for Form III to VI. Rocking Recorders contiunes the work from Form II and Recorder Consort is for more advanced players including the larger recorders.

Other Instrumental Groups

Our visiting instrumental specialists run a String group and wind band and is available to any pupil who learn Violin, Viola. Cello and Bass (String group) or Flute, Clarinet, Saxophone, Oboe or Bassoon (Wind band). These take place during a morning break.

House Music Competition

The House Music Competition is held in the Spring Term. The Form VI Arts Captains select an instrumentalist, a singer and a pianist, from Form III/IV and Form V/VI, to represent their House in the competition. The Arts Captains also choose a song and create their own set of lyrics and choreography for their House to perform in the competition. An external adjudicator is invited to judge the competition, which always promises to be an exciting event in the music calendar.

Class Concerts

These usually take place during the Spring or Summer Term, giving every girl the opportunity to perform a Musical or Drama solo and/or duet, whatever her standard. Parents are invited to attend the concert given by their daughter’s class.

School Concerts/Shows

Every child in the School is given an opportunity to take part in at least one dramatic and musical show during the year. These are much looked forward to and showcase the very best of our talented pupils.

Other Activities

Elocution & LAMDA

The girls are taught by a qualified teacher who is a member of the London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art. Classes are conducted on the lines of their syllabus and usually consist of four to six girls, taking place during breaks and lunch hours; there are at least ten lessons per term.
While aiming at clarity of speech, the girls may take a LAMDA examination in Verse Speaking, Spoken English, Reading for Performance or in Form VI, Devising Drama.

Language Clubs

We have a weekly German Club during morning break time for girls in Forms V and VI. Small groups of girls have taster German sessions over a few weeks. This club is by invitation only.

STEM Club

STEM club meet weekly after school and tackle a range of challenges to develop our problem solving and engineering abilities, getting more challenging as the year progresses. It is open for girls in Forms III – V and is led by Mrs Griffin.

Contact Details
Get in Touch
28 Douglas Road, Harpenden, Hertfordshire, AL5 2ES
VISIT OUR PRE-PREP

Limited places available in our Pre-Prep department.  Contact admissions@sthildasharpenden.co.uk to book a visit.