Outside the Classroom
Before school, at lunchtime and after school, the children can take part in a variety of clubs and activities to suit all tastes.
Activities change each term with the exception of:
- Chess
- Karate
- Ballet
Some of these are run by external agents, who provide a very good service that the children enjoy. Most members of staff offer clubs, for example, ICT, Lego, Yoga,
Mindfulness, Sewing, Sketchbook, Orchestra, Choir, Exam Skills and Prep Club, French and Story Club, to name a few.
Activities after school generally run from 3.45pm to 4.45pm. Details of activities are available on our online system SOCS at the end of each term and parents can login to put their child’s name down for a preferred activity. Please note that some activities are restricted in number.
Pupils develop their own interests and talents to a high level through a range of extra-curricular opportunities which is extensive for the size of school.
the arts
The performing arts are truly alive and well at Crackley. Specialist teachers inspire children to discover and explore new talents through weekly drama and music lessons. When they are ready they can join the school choir and orchestra, or take up a wide range of musical instruments with our visiting music teachers. They can showcase their growing skills through a range of performances from community events and assemblies to school productions and concerts.
We find that even the most reluctant performers 
blossom in this safe and fun environment. The benefits are great both inside and outside the classroom and experience at this early age builds confidence and develops skills which can be put to good use in the years to come.
Every year our pupils excel in the LAMDA and Music exams with many earning distinctions for their efforts.
The whole school productions at the end of the Summer Term which are professionally staged at a local theatre, are phenomenally ambitious and successful and each year seem to amaze and delight audiences in equal measure
forest school
What are Forest Schools?
The philosophy of Forest Schools is to encourage and inspire individuals of any age through positive
outdoor experiences.
By participating in engaging, motivating and achievable tasks and activities in a woodland
By participating in engaging, motivating and achievable tasks and activities in a woodland
environment each pupil has an opportunity to develop intrinsic motivation, as well as sound emotional and social skills.
These, through self-awareness, can be developed to reach personal potential. Forest Schools aim
to develop:
• Self-awareness
• Self-regulation
• Intrinsic motivation
• Empathy
• Good social communication skills
• Independence
• A positive mental attitude, self-esteem and confidence
Forest School at Crackley Hall
At Crackley Hall, Forest School sessions involve many things and we aim to have a period of at least an hour of uninterrupted Forest School for participating classes with our dedicated Forest School practitioner.
The children are free to choose amongst many activities; some will have been introduced by the leader, for
example bug hunting, mud painting, collecting, counting. Many are child-initiated and these are as varied
as the children and participants involved and often draw on recent learning experiences; some examples include building fairy houses, making stone age tools and pictures (Junior 1 having recently learned about prehistoric man) and almost always some children choose shelter building.
Over time, children participating in Forest School sessions can experience an increase in their self-belief, ability to work cooperatively with others, confidence, learning capacity, enthusiasm, communication and problem-solving skills and emotional well-being. Forest School at Crackley has been running since 2016 and class teachers are recognising the short term benefits. Children are more focused and ready to learn when they return to the classroom and more willing to collaborate on projects with others. Longer term benefits are being seen as higher self-esteem and willing to initiate something they would otherwise be reluctant to try.