Our academic, sporting and creative curriculum is enhanced by an extensive co-curricular programme that offers our children even more ways to extend their knowledge, explore their talents and above all, to enjoy their educational experience.”
Pupils at Heatherton have the opportunity to participate in Sport, Music, Drama and an abundance of co-curricular activities which stimulate growth, encourage pupils’ learning and helping to develop an adventurous nature.
Sparking a sense of adventure and developing long-lasting friendships
Children are stimulated by the outdoors and research confirms that outdoor learning increases students’ learning capacity and emotional wellbeing.
Throughout your daughter’s time at Heatherton, she will be offered a variety of opportunities to engage in outdoor education, developing her self-belief, leadership and teamwork skills through a series of fun and challenging ventures.
We are fortunate enough at Heatherton to have access to our fantastic High Ropes course on our Haresfoot campus, plus the facilities at Berkhamsted Pre-Prep, providing our children with an exceptional outdoor education.
We also follow the principles of Forest School within the Early Years department, which offers every child an innovative, hands-on learning experience in natural woodland.
Pupils benefit from a range of outdoor adventure experiences through the core curriculum and the extracurricular activities on offer throughout their time at Heatherton.
Confidently performing on stage and developing technical and design skills
“We believe that it is of utmost importance that every child is offered the opportunity to perform and to develop their listening and public-speaking skills.”
Instinctively, you may know that learning music is advantageous for your child and indeed the benefits speak for themselves, improving academic, social and physical ability and refining discipline and patience. Music also helps to cultivate creative and innovative learners.
Over 70% of the children at Heatherton take individual music lessons from Year 2 upwards. We currently offer piano, violin, cello, flute, clarinet, saxophone and voice lessons.
We also offer a weekly Music Theory class for those pupils who are keen to build on their classroom knowledge about the language and grammar of music. In this way, pupils are prepared for the ABRSM Theory of Music exams.
Students at Heatherton also have the opportunity to join our popular School choirs and smaller musical ensembles. Furthermore, as soon as pupils at Heatherton are at approximately Grade 2 standard and feel confident with their instrumental playing, they are invited to join the School Orchestra.
Drama provides a wealth of opportunities and benefits for pupils at Heatherton. We believe the subject boosts students’ self-confidence, developing their emotional intelligence and compassion.
Drama also teaches teaches pupils how to concentrate and cooperate, as well as how to articulate and express themselves, which is especially beneficial at this young age.
At Heatherton, drama is incorporated within the Pre-Prep’s English Scheme of Work, with opportunities for speaking and listening arising in at least one English lesson each week. The highlight of Pre-Prep drama arises through the process of creating their Christmas play.
During the Michaelmas term, Drama lessons for Years 2, 3 and 5 are used to prepare pupils for their LAMDA examinations.
We have high expectations of our girls at Heatherton, resulting in many successful and high-quality performances. Some of our recent productions have included Mulan, Aladdin and Beauty and the Beast.
Developing character and resilience – good for the mind, body and spirit
At Heatherton, every pupil has the opportunity to actively participate in Sport and we offer a diverse and challenging curriculum from Nursery to Year 6, through which we seek to challenge the children both physically and mentally.
Sport encourages a resilient, motivated and adventurous spirit and when these qualities are practiced on the sports field, we see this mentality reflected in the classroom.
There is a large number of competitive and non-competitive sporting activities on offer to our pupils including:
| Athletics | Netball |
| Ballet | Tag Rugby |
| Cross-Country | Tennis |
| Gymnastics | Triathlon |
| Hockey | Yoga |
| Lacrosse |
Every student will experience competition in several activities – whether in class games and Athletics, inter-house activities or inter-school fixtures and tournaments – during their time at Heatherton.
We also enter national competitions in swimming and have enjoyed great success in the Small Schools category in both IAPS and ESSA competitions.
A specialist Physical Education teacher delivers PE lessons ar Heatherton. Specialist coaches in Ballet, Gymnastics, Cross-Country, Lacrosse, Swimming, Tennis and Triathlon also support some curricular and extra-curricular activities.
Pupils in Years 1-6 swim every week at The Chiltern Pool in Amersham and use the extensive facilities at our other School sites for a range of sporting activities.
We enjoy taking on sporting challenges at Heatherton and we have recently encouraged our pupils and staff to ‘Move a Mile a Day’ for better health and fitness. Heatherton also support charities like Sports Relief and Jump Rope for Heart to promote fitness and fun, whilst developing students’ sense of compassion and giving.
Exploring new interests and skills in an engaging, fun environment
Our extensive programme of extra-curricular clubs at Heatherton is designed to complement the curriculum and stimulate our pupils’ interest.
Students at Heatherton are provided with the very best opportunities. By changing what activities are on offer each term, your daughter will be able to experience an ever-increasing range of activities as she progresses through the School.
There is something to suit every different personality and ability, including:
| Ballet | Mind Challenges |
| Modern Languages | Sports |
| Arts and Crafts | Outdoor Pursuits |
| Music |
The majority of our extra-curricular clubs are provided free of charge and take place during lunchtimes and after school. A few are chargeable where we are required to engage outside providers.
Stimulating learning beyond the classroom and gain new perspectives of the world
At Heatherton, we believe that a diverse range of activities and visits at all ages add to an enriched, well-rounded education, giving each child a personal stimulus and challenge each term. Happy and active children are motivated to do well in everything they do.
School outings and residential trips are a very important part of school life at Heatherton. We aim to inspire all our pupils with a carefully planned range of educational and recreational trips throughout the year.
Residential trips
More than just a school trip away, we organise meaningful adventures which bring positive long term benefits.
Residential trips give a balance to the usual classroom environment and provide a renewed motivation for learning to prevent any lethargy. Residential trips also provide a unique opportunity for encouraging independence, resilience and decision-making skills, as well as the chance to have fun and bond with their friends on a deeper level.
Heatherton pupils in Years 3-6 benefit from a residential trip programme that starts with a sleepover experience at school in the Trinity Term. In Year 4, our girls then take part in an overnight camping adventure in the grounds of Berkhamsted Pre-Prep.
By the time Heatherton girls reach Year 5, they are ready to enjoy a cross-curricular five-day residential stay in Malham, Yorkshire, followed by a week’s French trip at the end of Year 6.
This gentle and gradual programme of residential experiences help to instil in Heatherton pupils the essential life skills they will need to succeed in the next step of their educational journey. Our residential trips are also lots of fun!
A high-quality educational experience to enable pupils to achieve their best