At Hurstmere, we believe that learning goes well beyond the classroom. We encourage every pupil to take part in extra-curricular enrichment activities and we are proud to offer an extensive range of clubs, trips and activities that are accessible to all. Our in-school and local offer spans from Bee Keeping to Lego club to our Nationally successful football teams.
Enrichment Clubs
| Key Stage 3 | Before School (8am-8:25am) | Break (10:50am-11:10am) | Lunchtime (1:10pm-1:50pm) | After School (2:50pm-4pm) |
| Monday | Library Homework Club (4) Board Game Club (4) |
Library Homework Club (4) Board Game Club (4) |
Library Homework Club (4) Board Game Club (4) Basketball Club (Sports Hall) Comic & Lego Club (23) News Club (64) |
Library Homework Club (4) Board Game Club (4) TV & Film Club (64) Sports Leaders (64) Dungeons & Dragons Club (4) |
| Tuesday | Library Homework Club (4) Board Game Club (4) |
Library Homework Club (4) Board Game Club (4) |
Library Homework Club (4) Board Game Club (4) Basketball Club (Sports Hall) |
Library Homework Club (4) Board Game Club (4) Bananagram Club (5) Chess Club (4) Yr 7 Rugby (Field) Yr 8 Rugby (Field) Minecraft Club (TBC) (64) |
| Wednesday | Library Homework Club (4) Board Game Club (4) |
Library Homework Club (4) Board Game Club (4) |
Library Homework Club (4) Board Game Club (4) Basketball Club (Sports Hall) Comic & Lego Club (23) |
Library Homework Club (4) Board Game Club (4) Spanish Club (11) Poetry Club (4) Yr 8 Football (Field) Basketball Club (Sports Hall) |
| Thursday | Library Homework Club (4) Board Game Club (4) |
Library Homework Club (4) Board Game Club (4) |
Library Homework Club (4) Board Game Club (4) Basketball Club (Sports Hall) Comic & Lego Club (23) History Movie Club (33) |
Library Homework Club (4) Board Game Club (4) |
| Friday | Library Homework Club (4) Board Game Club (4) |
Library Homework Club (4) Board Game Club (4) |
Library Homework Club (4) Board Game Club (4) Basketball Club (Sports Hall) Comic & Lego Club (23) |
Library Homework Club (4) |
Clubs correct as at January 2024
Library
The Library/Learning Resources Centre (LRC) is situated in Room 4 on the first floor of the main school.
Opening Times
Every day from 8 am until 4 pm
Staffed by Mrs Topcu, the Librarian with assistance from volunteer pupil librarians at breakfast club, break time and lunchtime
Breakfast Club
- 8am - 8.20am
- Newspapers, magazines, quiet reading and study
Lunchtimes
- 12.50 - 1.30pm
- For homework, research and reading
- Carnegie Children’s Book Award Shadowing from April – June for pupils from Years 7-10
- Laptops are available for research and homework
- Chess and other strategy games available
During Lesson Times
- During English lessons for library and information literacy skills lessons
- With your class teacher for research
- For small groups of pupils, accompanied by a Teaching Assistant
- For individual research with permission from your class teacher
- For individual lessons from the Bexley Education Support Team.
Reading Scheme
- Organized by the AEN department, involving volunteer parents and members of the local community.
- Aims to raise the standards of literacy of pupils identified as needing extra support and to encourage a love of reading.
Resources
- The newly refurbished library contains books and magazines for homework and leisure purposes
- Laptop computers with Intranet and Internet access
- Audio books, Music CD, DVDs
- National and local newspapers, including archived ones of major events
- Community, health and local tourist information
- The Connexions Careers Library
Additional Facilities
- Photocopying facilities. Charges are 5p for each A4 copy and 10p for each A3
- A laminating service is available at a cost of 50p for each A4 and £1 for each A3
- A guillotine and a variety of staplers and other office equipment may be used under supervision
Duke of Edinburgh's Award
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award programme is a voluntary, non-competitive programme of activities for anyone aged 14-24. Doing their DofE gives young people the opportunity to experience new activities or develop existing skills. There are three progressive levels of programmes which when successfully completed lead to a Bronze, Silver or Gold Award. Young people create their own DofE programme by choosing a volunteering, physical and skills activity, going on an expedition and, for their Gold only, taking part in a residential activity. (more information on this can be found at DofE.org.
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is a national youth charity that operates throughout the UK. Founded by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh in 1956, DofE programmes are now delivered under licence by over 3,000 partners who offer it through DofE groups in youth clubs, voluntary organisations, schools, colleges, young offender institutions, housing associations and businesses.
At Hurstmere we are providing the DofE programme for pupils in year 10 to complete their bronze award. We are hoping that within a couple of years, we will also be able to offer the silver award.
Benefits for pupils
Achieving an Award will give you skills, confidence and an edge over others when you apply for college, university or a job. Beyond your academic achievements, universities want to see evidence of so called ‘soft skills’ that you have developed through extra-curricular activities, such as communication, commitment, leadership and teamwork. Your DofE Award is a fantastic way to demonstrate and evidence these skills in practice.
You’ll also make a difference to other people’s lives and your community, be fitter and healthier, make new friends and have memories to last you a lifetime.
When your child does their DofE programme they’ll develop the skills and attitudes they need to become more rounded, confident adults. Qualities that colleges, universities and employers are attracted to. So when you support your child’s pursuit of their Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, you’re investing in their future.
You can expect to see your child develop in the following areas as they work through their DofE programme:
- Self-belief and self-confidence
- A sense of identity
- Initiative and a sense of responsibility
- A real awareness of their strengths
- New talents and abilities
- The ability to plan and use time effectively
- Learning from and giving to others in the community
- Forming new friendships
- Problem solving, presentation and communication skills
- Leadership and team working skills.
Diamond Funding
Hurstmere School is delighted to announce that we have received a grant from The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) Diamond fund for up to date equipment to give all pupils the best possible experience.
Thanks to this fantastic offering we will be able to provide more of our young people from disadvantaged backgrounds the opportunity to partake in this prestigious award.
The DofE’s Diamond fund is made up of £1.5 million raised by over 15,000 supporters during the Charity’s Diamond Anniversary year (2016), £1 million from the #iwill Fund for England – a joint investment from The National Lottery and the Department of Culture, Media & Sport to support young people to access high quality social action opportunities – and additional DofE donations to double Diamond Anniversary fundraising in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. With a total of £3 million to invest over the next four years, the Charity aims to work with Licensed Organisations/centres, like Hurstmere School to give more disadvantaged young people the chance to develop life-changing skills and attributes – such as communication, determination and teamwork – for life and work, create new friendships and gain the confidence to reach their full potential.
Trips
Our trip programme spans from The United States to Iceland to Southern Africa. Find out about some of our past and upcoming trips here: