The main curriculum areas are important but often it is the other things about a school which children remember fondly as adults and which form part of who they become. We are committed at Brenchley & Matfield to develop the whole child and the additional activities and experiences we offer are considered as important aspects of our work.
We are an Active Mark school which means that we offer a good range of high quality physical education with club-based opportunities for children to develop skills in netball, football, and cross country running, as well as the full range of P.E. activities. Swimming is provided by the Schools at Somerhill and this begins in the summer term for Year 3 children and continues into Year 4 until the end of spring term
We are also a part of the school sports coordinators’ programme and are linked through Mascalls School to Hayesbrook Secondary School in Tonbridge. This means that our children have access to sports clubs run by secondary schools such as football, rugby, athletics and gymnastics.
We are proud of our tradition in the performing arts. Nativity Plays are produced in the Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1, and Year 6 children stage a fabulous end of year production.
Our music curriculum supports all children with beginning to read musical notation and play musical instruments. We have strong tradition of singing and our choir , which practices at lunch time is open to all children across the school . the choir performs in Church and at local community events and places.
Foreign languages are also taught as a club-based skill. We currently have clubs running for French which are fun and informal but provide a good grounding at this stage in children’s development when they are particularly receptive to language skills.
Gymnastics, football, netball , running, multisports , sewing and art clubs are offered as enrichment after school clubs.
Each class goes on at least one school visit during a year to museums, towns and other attractions usually related to the topics they are covering in class. Parents are asked to help provide extra support for these excursions and we are rarely short of volunteers.
In addition, Year 5 pupils are able to attend a three day residential outdoor pursuits programme at a local location. Apart from being highly enjoyable, this experience, away from home, is important to children as they grow up and forge strong bonds with their fellow adventurers.
Our Year 6 pupils take part in a five day residential visit as part of their final year, where they enjoy taking part in team activities to build their inter personal skills and increase their confidence and make memorable memories