Co-curricular

11 and 12 year olds are an energetic lot and Junior House is the perfect time to try out everything on offer at Ampleforth, not only in the classroom but through our extensive co-curricular programme. We want every child to have a broad variety of experiences to discover their potential and talents, learn about themselves, think about who they are and what they can contribute to the world around them.  

To enrich the curriculum and widen pupils’ experiences and thinking, the whole school takes a break from classroom lessons on Friday afternoons to pursue their interests and find new ones.  

Pupils can choose from a wide range of options such as riding, Green Room (working behind the scenes in the Theatre), golf, tennis, knitting, outdoor foraging and cooking, football, seasonal sports practice, cricket, Schola (choir), Junior House instrumental ensemble, Orchestra, and Pipe Band (bagpipes and drums).  

In Junior House there are also three options of co-curricular activities every evening including a variety of sports, music, and arts and crafts, as well as Chess, seasonal sports, Bridge, Swimming, Drama, Calligraphy, Rifle shooting, House band, History Society and Cooking.  

A second activity slot on some nights offers an array of Junior Model United Nations, Astronomy, Lego and Robotics, and Disco spinning amongst others. There is also an impromptu Nerf battle most Friday evenings! 

Activities are also available at weekends, and as much as possible we make the most of the beautiful nature around us with mountain biking expeditions, clay pigeon shooting, lots of sports, or simply enjoying the countryside with a walk through the valley. Most Sundays see Junior House out visiting different parts of Yorkshire with seaside trips to Scarborough or surfing in Saltburn, cultural trips to York, off to the cinema in Malton, or having fun doing crazy golf or bowling. A firm favourite is the nearby Flamingo land theme park.  

Service is a core tenet of life at Ampleforth and we encourage pupils to learn about what they can do for others and the positive contribution and impact they can make to the school and wider community. Junior pupils help with gardening on the school estate, learning to embody the Benedictine value of hospitality by serving at Mass and helping clear up all the parents’ and visitors’ coffee afterwards, as well as regularly visiting the Ampleforth parish church to run the children’s liturgy on Sundays.