Extra curricular activities and students

What are extracurricular activities?

Simply put, extracurricular activities are any activity or pursuit that takes place outside of the regular school curriculum. These can include, but aren’t limited to:

• clubs
• sports
• arts (acting or drama)
• volunteer work

The main purpose of extracurricular activity is to provide an opportunity for students to develop and pursue skills and interests that may not be offered in regular school hours.

Examples of extracurricular activities

Extracurricular activities exist in many forms. They can roughly be split into the categories of sport, the arts, academics and community service. Examples of sports include team sports like rugby, football and cricket, as well as more individual pursuits like athletics and swimming. The arts might include music (bands, orchestras and choirs), drama (plays and musicals) or painting and model making.

Access to extracurricular activity sadly isn’t equal between schools. According to a report by the UK government (“An unequal playing field: extra-curricular activities, soft skills and social mobility”, July 2019), “Household income is by far the most important factor driving gaps in participation, with children from the poorest households much less likely to take part in all types of extra-curricular activities, but especially music classes and sport. Opportunities to take part in activities also depend on school attended, with independent schools in particular likely to offer an unparalleled breadth and range of activities compared to state schools”.

Why are extracurricular activities important for students?

Academic studies have shown that taking part in extracurricular activity is correlated with higher academic performance at school, as well as measurable outcomes related to accessing tertiary education. According to Mahoney, Cairns, & Farmer (2003), “consistent extracurricular activity participation was associated with high educational status at young adulthood, including college attendance”.

In addition to such measurable outcomes, extracurricular activity offers students time off from the pressure of school. According to Liu, Shi and Gao, 2024), “by fostering interest in sports, enhancing psychological resilience, and creating a positive sports environment, academic stress among college students can be effectively alleviated, promoting their comprehensive development and psychological health”.

How to find extracurricular activities in your area

There are several routes to finding an extracurricular activity for your child in your area.

Firstly, do try their school: most will offer at least some sports and clubs after school. These are usually free to attend and there is the added convenience of their already being on site.

Secondly, try approaching local youth groups, libraries and community centres, who will often maintain a list of groups and clubs in the area.

Local social media groups are also good resources, as are friends and neighbours.

Extracurricular activities in London

Children in London are lucky to have access to a large range of activities. Please see below for just a few of our favourites!

Music activities available in London

• Rockschool London. Provides musical lessons in instruments like drums, guitar and voice. Perfect for students who might be reluctant to attend a choir or orchestra. More info.
• The Royal Academy of Music offers a Saturday school with instrument lessons, orchestras and more. More info.
• Youth Music Network offers musical classes and events nationwide. More info.

Arts activities available in London

• Camden Art Centre offers an online youth collective for people aged 15 to 25. More info.
• Art Academy offers short courses in holidays for students from 11. More info.
• National Youth Theatre offers acting classes for students on Saturdays and over holidays. More info.

Sports activities available in London

• London Aquatics Centre offers plenty of lessons and courses in swimming, junior lifesaving, diving and more. Further info.
• London Youth Rowing offers reasonably priced, accessible rowing courses aimed at beginners. More info.
• London Skateboarding Academy offer skateboard lessons in locations across London. More info.

Resources for Further Reading:

Paper

1. Promoting Interpersonal Competence and Educational Success Through Extracurricular Activity Participation by Mahoney, Cairns, & Farmer (2003)
2. The way to relieve college students’ academic stress: the influence mechanism of sports interest and sports atmosphere by Liu, M., Shi, B. & Gao, X.
3. An unequal playing field: extra-curricular activities, soft skills and social mobility by gov.uk