Co-Curricular

The Discoverers’ Club is an immensely popular after-school activity, now offered on multiple days to meet demand: Mondays for Years 5 & 6, Tuesdays for Years 9 & 10 and Thursdays for Years 7 & 8. After forming friendship groups, pupils head out for a variety of engaging pursuits. We welcome everyone and promote a wide range of activities, including indoor and outdoor climbing, canoeing, kayaking, caving, mountain biking, night walks and bushcraft. Pupils enrol for a term at a time, with many continuing throughout their time at the College. This allows them not only to discover diverse activities but also to develop their skills and confidence in them progressively.

Ten Tors is the UK’s foremost youth challenge event, uniquely testing endurance and teamwork. Teams of six, from the 2,400 young people participating from across the South West, begin near Okehampton, their start signalled by Army cannon fire. This Army-organised event requires teams to navigate independently across Dartmoor, reaching checkpoints and managing their own sustenance and campcraft until they return on Sunday. They cook for themselves and tend to any ailments, like sore feet. Such self-sufficiency in a remote moorland environment for two days demands extensive practice; we therefore conduct training over several weekends in the Autumn and Spring terms. This is decidedly not a race; the inherent challenge is the true motivator. Different distances (35, 45, or 55 miles) cater to varying age groups (14-19 years), with prerequisites for longer routes.

Our Combined Cadet Force instils responsibility, self-reliance, resourcefulness, endurance and perseverance. Open to pupils from Year 10, it comprises Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force sections. As one of the UK’s oldest CCFs, with nearly 150 years of history, we proudly maintain traditions like the Trafalgar Dinner. MOD part-funding provides a wealth of opportunities, including weekly training, weekend exercises, summer camps and overseas expeditions.

The Royal Navy section leverages our coastal location for regular sea training, with a Mediterranean sailing expedition planned. RAF cadets all gain flying experience, utilise drones and are developing a VR simulator. The Army section uses our indoor range for marksmanship, progressing to live firing on MOD ranges, alongside fieldcraft exercises focusing on survival, leadership and resilience. While not a recruitment tool, the CCF offers strong support for military career aspirations, with recent successes in officer selection. Weekend training, though demanding, is always fully subscribed, highlighting the immense sense of achievement and enjoyment cadets derive.

Our strong music curriculum forms the department’s core, where pupils learn to sing, play keyboards, compose using music software, improvise and listen with analytical ears. Instrumental tuition is extensive, covering singing, piano (harpsichord and organ by request), common woodwind, all brass, full string section, classical and electric guitars and drum kit. We endeavour to source tutors for less common instruments if there is interest.

The school’s three choirs and orchestra are central to major events, concerts and services. Recent innovations include socially distanced recorded services and an online community choir. Lunchtime clubs like Girls’ and Boys’ Voices, string and classical guitar ensembles and the popular rock and pop Live Lounge offer diverse opportunities. Theory tuition is available, often aiding Grade 5 preparation. Regular instrument-specific concert evenings and Music Scholars’ showcases encourage performance and peer support, complemented by highly anticipated annual house music competitions for both ensemble and solo performances.

Pupils encounter numerous performance avenues, from local drama festivals and dedicated performance evenings to ambitious full-school productions; recent successes include “Shrek the Musical” and an modern twist on a 1980’s film classic, “Bugsy Malone”. We offer Speech and Drama lessons leading to well-respected LAMDA qualifications, which can contribute valuable UCAS points for university entrance.

A highlight is the vibrant annual house drama competition, where pupil-led teams devise outstanding pieces with just 24 hours of preparation. Trips further afield to Bristol, Cheltenham, London and the Minack Theatre also enrich their understanding. Pupils engage in practical workshops with acclaimed theatre practitioners like Frantic Assembly, The Paper Birds and Told by An Idiot, appreciating drama’s value beyond the classroom.

Our Art department offers exciting explorations in art and textiles, including photograms, darkroom skills, etching and screen printing. Pupils develop drawn and photographic images into print and fabric designs, often using an experimental, layered mix of media. Weekly life drawing sessions are available for GCSE and A-level Art pupils, enhancing their observational skills.

Several popular clubs cater to diverse interests. The Model Makers Club sees pupils work on intricate Warhammer sets or a collaborative model railway landscape, often linking to the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award skill section. The General Art Club provides access to the department’s full range of materials for personal projects or coursework extension. Additionally, an Art/Competition Club helps pupils hone their techniques in various media for both personal development and entry into external competitions, fostering a spirit of artistic endeavour.

Design Technology provides engaging after-school opportunities from Monday to Thursday weekly, offering support and diverse options to suit every pupil. We encourage pupils to utilise our excellent facilities, fostering their creativity as they experiment with a wide array of materials and processes. They design and manufacture projects of their own choosing at their own pace, as we prioritise the quality of learning and outcome over sheer quantity.

Our staff work closely alongside pupils, ensuring they achieve their desired results while simultaneously challenging and progressing their technical skills. The department caters for all interests, offering experience in traditional manufacturing methods alongside the most modern techniques, including advanced CAD/CAM equipment. Regardless of their initial ability, pupils invariably enjoy their time in our workshops, where the only true limits are their imagination and creative drive, leading to impressive and innovative outcomes.

We warmly invite you to visit Plymouth College Senior School to experience our environment firsthand. To arrange a visit, please contact our admissions team using the email address or phone number below. Alternatively, you can click the “Arrange a Visit” button to fill out your details and a member of our team will get in touch as soon as possible to arrange a visit.

Email: admissions@plymouthcollege.com
Telephone: 01752 505120

We look forward to welcoming you and your child to our community.