Extra Curricular Opportunities

Overview of Extra-Curricular Opportunities

We have a wide range of extra-curricular opportunities for our students to engage in. This forms part of our commitment to leadership and character development. Listed below are some examples of the extra-curricular provision across the Academy.

Physical Education

The physical education extra- curricular programme will provide opportunities for children to develop their physical, mental, and social wellbeing through sport. A wide range of activities will be provided by Academy staff including Football, Badminton, Netball, Dance, Table Tennis and Fitness. Links with national Governing Bodies will also enhance provision. Currently in 2021 cricket is delivered through WCCC and Girls Archery is delivered through Archery GB. Through extra-curricular provision the aim is to provide students with competitive sporting experiences at local and regional levels linked to the School Games model.

RAF Cadets

The CCF programme is run in conjunction with the Ministry of Defence and aims to develop the leadership skills of young people. The CCF has been successfully run in schools for many years and has helped thousands of young people to develop key life skills such as confidence, self-discipline and resourcefulness. Its focus is to provide active and adventurous training and to give young
people opportunities for personal and leadership development outside the classroom.

At Small Heath Leadership Academy, the CCF will form part of our leadership programme to inspire our pupils to develop strong characters and to be active citizens. It will also complement our STAR values of Service, Teamwork, Ambition and Respect.
The CCF will offer a number of benefits to our students, such as:
• Personal development, including leadership skills, self-discipline, teamwork and resourcefulness
• The opportunity to gain nationally recognised qualifications, such as the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and BTECs
• Exciting and varied opportunities around the Star trust five leadership foundations of Sport, Creativity, Performing Arts, Enterprise and Careers, and Charity and Social Action. This will include the chance to fly a plane.

The CFF will meet once a week during term time, normally after school for 1.5 to 2 hours. In the school holidays, cadets will also have the opportunity to attend camps. The CCF is a completely voluntary extra-curricular activity offered to all students who are aged 12 years and above in September. Places will be limited to around 30 cadets and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. There is no commitment or expectation for cadets to join the Armed Forces when they have completed their schooling.

Partnership with Birmingham Repertory Theatre

For over ten years, the Birmingham Repertory Theatre has been running a youth theatre group at Small Heath Leadership Academy, and many of our students are enthusiastic participants. The group comes together once a week after school to engage in a variety of fun and interactive drama activities. Students who participate also have the opportunity to conceive and create their very own plays and productions, set in diverse locations ranging from post-apocalyptic Birmingham to war-torn Iraq. Last year, the group took on the challenge of staging Shakespeare’s ‘Hamlet.’

Every production the youth group creates is performed at ‘The REP’ in one of their theatre spaces with professional stage managers, lighting and sound staff, giving pupils the satisfaction and challenge of performing in front of a live audience.

Rehearsals take place every Thursday evening between 3.20pm-4.50pm and new members are always welcome.