Activities & Societies

Children learn as much outside the classroom as they do inside and at Ryde School we have a tradition of offering high quality opportunities and activities outside the academic curriculum. These activities are an important and exciting feature of school life and contribute enormously to our pupils’ social and academic development.

The range of activities available is extensive and was rated as 'excellent' in our last ISI inspection. We hope that all pupils involve themselves in a range of activities available although we have a number of pupils pursuing specific activities to a very high level. The activities on offer reflect a range of pursuits that might be regarded as traditional extra-curricular clubs as well as specific activities that have evolved from the interests of our staff.

An annual ski trip, French exchange visit and music tour, together with regular cultural and history trips to many European cities offer pupils the opportunity to experience different cultures and experiences.

Theatre trips, visits to exhibitions and museums plus excursions to local colleges and universities also occur regularly and provide further opportunities to enrich and extend learning beyond the classroom.  We have a broad range of experiences on offer from creative writing groups, public speaking, Combined Cadet Force and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award to the big band music groups and orchestras; students readily enjoy these experiences and relish the unique opportunities that they are given to extend and expand their learning.

We field a large number of teams in a range of competitive sports and students compete regularly against mainland schools and in tournaments. Sailing is a key focus offered to all from novice to advanced; we now compete against other schools in team racing as well entering national regattas.
Provision in the Arts is exceptional with pupils able to access and experience a broad and eclectic range of art forms at the highest level. Pupils regularly perform or exhibit and large numbers go on to arts and drama colleges. Every year there is a summer musical as well as other dramatic productions with different year groups allowing pupils to showcase and celebrate their talent.

Our musicians perform in two concerts each year, evening recitals, choirs and church services and have been asked to perform at various public events. Every year the school enters the Global Rock Challenge during which a team of around one hundred pupils across the Senior School are trained by Sixth Form leaders to compete in an inter-schools dance competition held in Hampshire.

Extra Curricular Activities 

Extra-curricular activities are one of the defining characteristics of a good independent school education; they enrich young people’s lives in a plethora of ways: building confidence, friendships,
communication and teamwork; encouraging them to think in different, often more creative and independent ways, and giving them a sense of purpose and engagement in their lives beyond the classroom. 
Ryde School’s Extra-Curricular Programme has consistently been graded as excellent by ISI  inspections. Pupils are expected to take part in at least one extra-curricular activity each week, with Years 7 - 9 expected to take two and we hope that most pupils will participate far more than this. The school has a busy evening and weekend programme of sport, music and drama amongst other
activities and pupils are actively encouraged to commit to practices, performances and fixtures. Pupils in Year 10 can choose to take part in either the Combined Cadet Force or the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme. 

Many of our pupils have found that the extra-curricular activities they have pursued at school have not only given them skills for life but are looked on favourably on their UCAS applications.

Extra Curricular Trips

Pupils have the opportunity to participate in a wide variety of trips as they progress through the School. More detailed information can be found here on My School Portal.