The Perse School Cambridge

• Overview
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  • Art
    • Gallery
  • Biology
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    • Classical Civilisation
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• The school day
• Extra-curricular
  • Drama
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  • Sport
    • Cricket
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    • Rugby
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  • Enrichment Programme
  • Perse Exploration Society
  • Duke of Edinburgh
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  • Clubs and societies
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We pride ourselves on offering an all-round education that emphasises the value of participation in clubs, trips, sport, outdoor pursuits, music, art and drama. We believe that extra-curricular opportunities help develop pupils' self confidence, organisation, team working and leadership skills as well as providing hobbies for life and a chance to make new friends.

There are currently over 50 different clubs and societies ranging from Art to Wind Band and Debating to Dance. The exact number and range of societies on offer varies with pupil and staff interests; some such as the Combined Cadet Force have a 100 year history, others may come and go.

The school actively encourages pupils to form societies in order to develop bona fide interests and provides ‘seed funding’ for society ‘start ups’.  A recent example is the creation of the Rocketry Club that now competes in national launch competitions.

Outdoor Pursuits is a particular strength and the Perse Exploration Society (PES) runs many different camps and expeditions focusing on charity work and the acquisition of outdoor skills.  Recent overseas PES expeditions have seen Perse pupils climbing Mount Kenya, repairing primary schools in the Himalayas and carrying out conservation work in the Amazon.

We have an active Student Charities Committee with each Year Group adopting a charity to support.  In recent years Perse pupils have raised funds to assist Read International, Emmaus, EACH, Link Romania and the Addenbrookes Charitable Trust.

We take full advantage of our Cambridge location to host lunchtime and evening talks given by members of the University.  Recent speakers, hosted by the 42 Club, have included Professor Gelsthorpe on ‘Do prisons do any good?’, Dr Michael Briant on ‘Understanding the Nazi mind’ and Dr Martin Welch on ‘How the genomic revolution will change our lives’.

A particular feature of our extra-curricular programme is the Enrichment afternoon for Year 11 and Sixth Form pupils. It takes place once a fortnight and through a wide range of activities enables pupils to:

• Learn new skills that would not be acquired in the classroom, such as cookery, and DIY
• Develop leadership skills through positions of responsibility in the Combined Cadet Force and PES
• Acquire new interests such as Archaeology or Horticulture
• Serve the wider community through one of over 100 community service placements based in charity shops, old people’s homes, schools, and hospitals
• Learn to cope with new challenges in preparation for a major overseas expedition
• Work towards a Duke of Edinburgh's Award
• Undertake specific work experience