Enrichment

Taking part in enrichment activities is a fantastic way to extend your education beyond the main course of study. It increases engagement and helps you retain more information.

THActive is our programme of enrichment and extra-curricular activities. There is a wide range of clubs and activities running at lunchtime and after school for students to join.

Attending extra-curricular activities gives students the opportunity to meet new people, make friends, try new skills, relax and have fun. Research shows that students who regularly attend extra-curricular activities are more engaged in learning and make more progress in lessons than students who do not.

Combined Cadet Force

Thistley Hough Academy offers all students from Year 8 to Year 11 the opportunity to join the Combined Cadet Force (CCF). Being a cadet gives students the opportunity to take part in a huge range of exciting and adventurous, military-themed activities, and quickly builds important skills like teamwork, confidence and self-discipline, as well as having the opportunity to take on leadership roles, all of which help to build students’ confidence, resilience and character, which look great on college, university or job applications.

Students are expected to attend a weekly after-school parade, held on Thursdays between 14.45 and 16.00. Students are also invited to attend a range of training weekends throughout the academic year. These courses are organised and led by adult volunteers, many of whom are staff at the Thistley Hough, who have undertaken specialised training to conduct such activities. The CCF programme is sponsored by the Ministry of Defence and so all uniform, equipment and training courses are paid for through this sponsorship.

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award

The Duke of Edinburgh's Award logo

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is a prestigious, world leading youth achievement programme, that over a quarter of a million young people embark on each year. Students at Thistley Hough are given the opportunity to complete the Bronze Award in year 9 and then progress on to complete the Silver award in year 10. The award helps young people build greater confidence, self-esteem, resilience and teamwork skills. The achievement is highly regarded by colleges, universities and employers as it encompasses many of the key attributes they look for, in addition to academic qualifications.

There are four sections to the award: Skill, Volunteering, Physical and Expedition.

Each encourages students to try different things, gain new experiences and make a difference in the local community. Students can choose what they do for Skill, Volunteering and Physical; but examples include learning a musical instrument, volunteering with the PDSA and playing for a football team.

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