More Than Lessons

At Prenton High School, we believe that some of the most valuable learning experiences happen beyond the classroom. Our Student Life programme encourages students to discover new interests, develop their talents, build friendships and experience opportunities that broaden their horizons.

From extracurricular clubs and educational visits to timetabled enrichment, house competitions and community activities, we provide a varied programme that helps students develop confidence, independence, wellbeing and essential life skills.

Guided by our ethos of Belong. Be Heard. Lead., we want every student to feel connected to school life, discover something they enjoy and take pride in being part of #TeamPrenton.

Every Student Encouraged to Participate

We encourage every student to attend at least one extracurricular club.

We recognise the important contribution that clubs can make to friendships, confidence, wellbeing and a sense of belonging. Participation also provides opportunities for students to develop new skills, experience success and build positive relationships across year groups.

Club attendance is recorded through Arbor registers, with participation analysed every half term. This allows us to identify both students who are regularly involved and those who are not yet attending extracurricular activities. Information is shared with form tutors, who speak with students about their interests, explore potential barriers and encourage them to try activities that might appeal to them. Student voice also helps shape our clubs programme. Feedback from students and our leadership teams informs the development of activities, helping us provide an offer that reflects the interests and needs of our school community.

Enrichment at Prenton

Experiences for Everyone

Our timetabled enrichment programme is a key part of our wider Personal Development curriculum, providing opportunities for students to experience activities beyond their usual lessons. Unlike voluntary extracurricular clubs, enrichment is delivered during the school day, helping ensure that students can access a broad range of experiences regardless of their ability to attend activities outside school hours.

Our 2026/27 Enrichment Framework is organised around six half-termly themes, with planned two-hour enrichment sessions and an additional Careers in the Curriculum day. Activities are designed to be practical, interactive, collaborative and memorable. They may include workshops, creative challenges, hands-on projects, problem-solving, outdoor learning and opportunities to work with employers, universities, charities and community organisations.

Our Six Enrichment Themes

Half Term 1 – Arts & Culture

Exploring creativity, cultural understanding and self-expression through art, design, music, performance and activities celebrating different traditions and perspectives.

Half Term 2 – Wider Life & Future Skills

Developing practical skills, independence and confidence through activities such as first aid, enterprise, cooking, wellbeing and problem-solving.

Half Term 3 – Careers-Related Learning

Broadening aspirations and exploring future pathways through careers education, employer encounters, workplace insights and opportunities to connect learning with the world of work.

Half Term 4 – Civic Engagement

Developing active citizenship and community responsibility through volunteering, charitable initiatives, environmental action and projects that make a positive difference.

Half Term 5 – Nature, Outdoors & Adventure

Building resilience, teamwork and environmental awareness through outdoor learning, sustainability projects and experiences that encourage students to connect with the natural world.

Half Term 6 – Sport & Physical Activity

Promoting physical wellbeing, teamwork, confidence and active lifestyles through a range of sporting, recreational and physical activities.

A Progressive Programme: Years 7–11

Our enrichment offer is designed to respond to students’ changing needs as they progress through school.

In Years 7–9, students benefit from a broad range of experiences that encourage exploration, develop practical skills and introduce new interests and possibilities.

In Years 10 and 11, our Power to Perform and KS4 Future Ready programmes provide age-appropriate opportunities focused on examination preparation, effective study strategies, careers education and transition to post-16 education or training.

This ensures that personal development remains relevant and purposeful throughout each student’s journey at Prenton.

Enrichment Framework – Student Life and Leadership Enrichment Curriculum by Laura Bratherton

Developing Skills for Life

Through Student Life, students have opportunities to develop the personal qualities and transferable skills that support success in education, employment and everyday life.

Our enrichment programme promotes the development of LORIC skills:

• Leadership – taking responsibility, supporting others and contributing positively.
• Organisation – planning, preparing and managing tasks effectively.
• Resilience – overcoming challenges, adapting to setbacks and persevering.
• Initiative – embracing opportunities, solving problems and taking positive action.
• Communication – listening, collaborating and expressing ideas effectively.

Students are encouraged to recognise and reflect on these skills through their enrichment experiences. Following timetabled enrichment activities, students use Unifrog to record what they have experienced, reflect on their learning and identify the skills they have developed. This helps students build a meaningful record of their personal development, supporting future applications, interviews and career planning.

House Competitions & Wider School Life

Our house system brings students together through friendly competition, shared experiences and opportunities to celebrate achievement.

Every student belongs to one of our three houses: Bedford, Hesketh or Riviera.

Throughout the year, students can participate in sporting competitions, creative challenges, fundraising activities and other events that encourage teamwork, participation and house pride.

Our programme includes activities such as interform basketball and the Autumn Through My Eyes photography competition.

Student voice helps shape these opportunities. Form Leaders and Prenton Parliamentarians gather ideas and contribute to decisions about activities and competitions, ensuring that students have a meaningful role in developing school life.

Through our wider programme of charity initiatives, awareness events, community projects and school celebrations, students are encouraged to contribute positively to #TeamPrenton.

A Culture of Participation

We believe that every student should have opportunities to discover their strengths, develop their talents and feel valued within our school community.

We recognise that students have different interests, experiences, strengths and needs, and that meaningful participation sometimes requires additional encouragement, flexibility or adaptations.

Our approach combines:

• Timetabled enrichment, providing experiences within the school day and reducing barriers associated with transport, cost and commitments outside school.
• A varied extracurricular programme, offering different activities and flexible ways to participate.
• Arbor participation monitoring, helping identify students who are not yet attending clubs.
• Form tutor conversations, providing encouragement and support to help students find suitable opportunities.
• Student voice, enabling students to influence the activities and experiences available.

Where needed, reasonable adjustments may include adapted activities, accessible resources, supported group work and alternative ways for students to demonstrate their skills. Our aim is not simply to provide opportunities, but to help students feel confident and supported in accessing them.

Student Leadership in Action

Student leadership plays an important role in shaping Student Life at Prenton.

Our Student Senior Leadership Team (SSLT) and wider student leadership groups help promote activities, organise events, encourage participation and represent the views of their peers. Through Prenton Parliamentarians and Form Leaders, Green Team, Team Thrive, Faith and Culture Champions and Student Life Leaders, students contribute to initiatives involving wellbeing, environmental action, cultural awareness, fundraising, house activities and community engagement.

Student leadership meetings take place fortnightly during Week 2 of the school timetable, bringing together representatives from Years 7–11, with SSLT members helping to lead and coordinate activities. Our ‘You say, we do!’ approach ensures that student feedback can influence decisions and lead to meaningful action. From student-selected house competitions to charity projects and environmental initiatives, students are encouraged to take ownership of their ideas and contribute positively to school life.

How We Know It Makes a Difference

We regularly evaluate Student Life to ensure that our provision remains inclusive, varied and responsive to students’ interests and needs.

Our approach includes:

• Arbor club registers and half-termly participation analysis to monitor engagement and identify students who are not yet attending extracurricular activities.
• Form tutor follow-up to encourage participation and help identify barriers.
• Student voice and leadership meetings to gather feedback and involve students in shaping provision.
• Unifrog records and student reflections to capture enrichment experiences and developing skills.
• Feedback from students, staff and families to identify strengths and opportunities for improvement.
• Review of the six-theme enrichment framework to evaluate the breadth, accessibility and quality of experiences provided.

This information helps us recognise successes, respond to emerging needs and continually strengthen our Student Life programme.

We believe the value of Student Life is measured not simply by the number of activities available, but by the opportunities students have to discover their interests, build confidence, develop friendships and experience a genuine sense of belonging.

Our ambition is simple: every student should find something they enjoy, experience success and know that their contribution matters.

Belong. Be Heard. Lead.