2
Contents
Pages
05 - 13 Academic Enrichment
15 - 24 Sport & Outdoor Education
26 - 29 Expressive Arts
3
4
Academic Enrichment
Academic excellence is one of our core aims at Beaconhurst, and in addition to the
stimulating curriculum there are many other academic pursuits available outside the
classroom. Whether it is some extra help in Mathematics or forming a Young Enterprise
company, there’s a wide choice available. Our students can pursue activities that enhance
critical thinking, build on an already acquired skill or develop a new proficiency.
This section will inform you of the Academic Enrichment clubs which run this session. Due to
the seasonal nature of some of the activities, a term timetable will be published which
outlines the clubs and activities that take place that term.
The clubs / activities have been grouped together and descriptions of each can be found
below:







Academic Drop in Sessions
Academic Clubs
Debating
School Trips
Food Club
Young Enterprise competition
Eco Clubs
Academic Drop in Sessions (Tr-S6)
Beaconhurst is renowned for its high quality of teaching and the pursuit of academic
excellence. In addition to our varied and stimulating curriculum, there are a large number of
Senior School academic drop in sessions available throughout the week. This provides time
for students who’d appreciate a bit of extra help or some extension work.
5
Academic Clubs
As well as drop in sessions for the subjects offered at Beaconhurst there is also a variety of
other academic clubs which provide enrichment beyond the curriculum












Art Club ( J1 & J2 )
Chess & Games Club ( Tr-S6 )
Classics Club ( Tr-S6 )
Clay Club ( S1-S3 )
Creative Writers’ Club ( J4-J6 )
Junior School Craft Club ( J3- J6 )
Maths Puzzle Club ( Tr- S6 )
Photography Club ( Tr-S6 )
Science Club ( J5 – Tr )
Spanish Club ( Tr-S6 )
Story Book Club ( J1 & J2 )
Youth Alpha ( S3-S6 )
Descriptions of the clubs can be found below
Art club (J1 & J2)
An opportunity for pupils to develop basic art skills such as colouring,
cutting and gluing. Activities are often linked with the seasons and other
yearly events. Volunteers from J6 help with this club.
Chess & Games Club (Tr –S6)
The Chess and Games club offers an opportunity for pupils from
Transition to S6 to learn and play Chess and other board games in a
relaxed and friendly atmosphere in the Library.
6
Classics Club (Tr – S6)
The main subjects of study and research are Latin Language, in the
form of a beginners’ course using the Oxford Latin Course, Greek
and Roman History, and myth. Greek alphabet and language are
also available. Other studies vary according to pupils’ own interests
within the realm of Classics.
Clay Club (S1 - S3)
Clay Club is a fun group where pupils from S1 to S3 can explore various hand modelling and
sculpting techniques to explore the wonderfully tactile nature of clay. The club meets every
Thursday at lunchtime and projects are varied. We
will work on both teacher and pupil led ideas and will
aim to create imaginative, unique and well
constructed clay pieces, often fully fired and glazed.
Staff will give technical help and guidance and suggest projects if needed. The emphasis is
on enjoying the process of making and handling the clay. Whilst most pupils will join us just
to have a little fun doing something they enjoy, or to learn a new skill, the club can also offer
our S3 pupils a chance to supplement their National 4 Art and Design portfolio.
Creative Writers’ Club (J4 - J6)
The Creative Writers’ Club for J4, 5 and 6 pupils will inspire many
different types of writing; children will be encouraged to write
stories, poems or play scripts, depending on their interests and
enthusiasms. It is hoped that a published author will visit the group
over the course of the session and that some pieces of work written
by the children will be published in the school magazine...or even
further afield!
Junior School Craft Club (J3 -J6)
The club covers a wide variety of crafts. Each term we tackle
various seasonal and celebration based activities. This has
involved: patchwork, tie-dying, appliqué, card making, simple
pyrography, decorating flower pots, making bird boxes, leaf rubbing and printing, sewing
and needlework, potato printing, metal embossing and lots of Christmas/Easter decorations.
Children are encouraged to be adventurous with colour and design and do as much
handiwork themselves whilst working in a neat and tidy environment.
7
Maths Puzzle Club (TR - S6)
An opportunity for pupils from Tr - S6 to develop problem solving
skills. Examples of resources available are Sudoku, Happy Cubes cubes to build, Pentominoes, Tangrams and online games.
Photography Club (Tr - S6)
Members of the club will meet and discuss different aspects
of famous, noteworthy and inspiring photography. Each
week the pupils will be issued a new ‘theme’ for that week’s
assignment. Each pupil is free to enter an image for
consideration and the following week we’ll discuss what we
enjoy about each image. We aim to have a collection of work by the end of the year which
can be exhibited, showcasing the talent of the pupils involved.
Science Club (J5 - Tr)
Science club is aimed at J5 - Transition years and provides
sessions of practical science. Children have the opportunity to
use the science equipment and to carry out practical techniques
and develop skills which are useful further up the school. Science
club provides a fun but educational activity. Senior pupils in S5
and S6 assist and support pupils during these sessions.
Spanish Club (TR - S6)
Spanish club is open to pupils in Transition to S6. Pupils learn
basic Spanish vocabulary and grammar on various topics. The
session is designed to give pupils a taste of the language and
is based mainly on oral communication.
Story Book Club (J1 & J2)
The Story Book Club for Junior 1 and 2 is a very relaxed, comealong-if-you-would-like club. For half an hour, stories will be read
to whomsoever turns up and hopefully further instil a love of
reading and listening to quality children’s literature.
8
Youth Alpha (S3 - S6)
Youth Alpha is open to pupils in Senior School, although it
is really aimed at S3 upwards. The group will meet in
room 2 on Thursday afternoon to discuss and learn about
Christian issues in an informal, fun and relaxed way.
Debating
Critical thinking and being able to “think on your feet “are crucial and advantageous life
skills. Our debaters learn and acquire these skills, and more, in the clubs that start in Junior
5.



Junior School Debating ( J5 & J6 )
Senior School Debating ( Tr-S6 )
Debating - competition training ( S4-S6 )
Descriptions of the clubs can be found below:
Junior Debating (J5 & J6)
The purpose of the club is to introduce J5 & J6 pupils to the basic format and rules of a
debate. The pupils will develop critical thinking skills as they learn to debate a motion from
different viewpoints. Several forms of debating are introduced and the topics are provided,
although pupils may be asked to contribute topics of their own during the course of the
year.
Senior School Debating (Tr – S6)
The Debating Society is a senior section club for pupils from Transition to S6. The club meets
every Friday at lunchtime and debates a motion chosen by the pupils. Sometimes these
motions are serious and topical and sometimes they are light hearted and fun! The rules
and skills of debating are taught and practised. The pupils also learn how to construct and
defend effective arguments. Some pupils go on to enter national competitions in both
debating and public speaking.
9
Debating – competition training (S4 - S6)
This session is designed to help senior pupils develop their argumentative skills and to
practise debating challenging topics. We will also learn some of the main critical thinking
principles and how to apply them to debating. Preparation for inter-school competitions will
also take place on Monday after school.
School Trips
Learning outside the classroom and visiting different cultures is an enriching experience for
our students. It starts in Junior 1 where they learn about bush craft, bug hunting and other
outdoor pursuits in the summer Outdoor Learning Week. Senior School trips, linked to the
curriculum, are further afield and include France, Poland, Germany and Belgium.







J1-3 Outdoor Learning Week
J4-6 Adventure Days
J4-J6 Trip
Battlefields Trip ( S3-S6 )
Berlin Trip ( S4-S6 )
Paris Trip ( S5 & S6 )
Poland Trip ( S4-S6 )
Descriptions of the trips are given below:
J1-3 Outdoor Learning Week
During a week in May pupils take part in an
outdoor activity each day. The activities
include bug hunting, cycling safety and skills,
bush craft, a blind trail, scavenge hunting &
safety with fire. Investigation, recording
skills, physical exercise, observation, self
awareness, survival and a love and
appreciation of the outdoors will be the
focus of the learning and teaching for the
week.
10
J4-6 Adventure Days
The week after the J4-J6 trip, J4, J5 and J6 children will have an outdoor learning
experience. This includes paddle sports on Stirling University Loch, problem solving and an
adventure day in the local area. Whilst the focus will be on learning, it will be a fun day and
the children will be working in small teams. They will be outdoors all day (whatever the
weather) and have a packed lunch away from school.
J4 – J6 Trip
All the pupils in J4-J6 are encouraged to come and enjoy the experience of a three day trip.
Since the trips began, back in 1996, groups have visited Windsor, York, Oban, Newcastle,
Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Inverness. For many, this will be their first time away from their
families, but it’s a great opportunity to mix with pupils of different ages and it helps build
strong relationships, attitudes and skills which will be developed as the pupils move into
Senior School
Battlefields Trip (S3 - S6)
This trip runs biannually. It’s aimed at pupils from S3-S6 who
have an interest in History, whether they are currently studying
the subject or not. The trip aims to bring to life the sacrifice made
by a generation at the start of the Twentieth Century. The trip
explores themes of citizenship, and rights and responsibilities
Berlin Trip (S4 - S6)
This is a three day trip intended for the upper end of the school, preferably to pupils who
studied German up to S4 or beyond. It is meant as
an introduction to current German culture and
political life and as it was at the time of the Berlin
Wall; it will clarify and illustrate topics pupils
encountered in their language course. On the
agenda are visits to the German parliament and
the Berlin Wall Museum, as well as sight-seeing
and experiencing the buzz of a big German city.
11
Paris Trip (S5 & S6)
The Paris Trip is aimed at pupils from S5 and S6
who would like to broaden their cultural
horizons in one of Europe’s leading cities. In
previous years, the trip has included a day at a
sixth form economics and business conference in
the Salle des Congrès, giving pupils an
opportunity to hear business gurus and politicians, such as Paddy Ashdown, speak and then
debate with them. More recently, the trip has had an art focus, allowing the pupils to gain a
real understanding of some of the major historical movements of the Arts through the
collections gathered in Paris. This trip, which is offered on a bi-annual basis, is clearly of
interest to language students, but should also appeal to any pupil wishing to experience a
major world city and enrich their general historical and cultural knowledge. Depending on
the group going, the trip can be tailored to suit collective interests.
Poland Trip ( S4-S6 )
The trip runs biannually. It is aimed at pupils from S4-S6 who have an interest in History,
whether they are currently studying the subject or not. Through visiting Auschwitz
Concentration Camp and other sites in Krakow pupils gain an understanding of the
Holocaust and the story of those who survived the worst genocide of the Twentieth Century
Food Club
Being able to cook is a highly valuable
skill. Our young chefs learn a variety of
culinary skills and also compete for a
Masterchef prize

Food Club ( J3-S1 )
The aim is to make pupils aware of local produce and use these ingredients to make
food from around the world. This year dishes include freshly made pasta, frittatas,
Toad in the Hole and Bread and Butter Pudding. At the end of each term pupils will
receive a folder with pictures of all the food made, along with accompanying recipes.
12
Young Enterprise Competition (S6)
The business world is challenging. Our S6 students gain an insight into this environment by
forming and running their own companies. Teamwork, delegation, compromise and making
a profit are all elements that need to be considered, and worked on. The competition
includes trade fairs, an evening at Prudential, a training evening at STEP and culminates with
the finals in April.
Eco Clubs
Beaconhurst have been awarded the Eco Green Flag and we are now formally recognised as
an Eco School. We’ll continue to work together to improve our carbon footprint


Eco Committee ( Nursery – S6 )
Tree Tops Eco Club ( J4-S2 )
Please find descriptions of the clubs below
Eco Committee ( Nursery – S6 )
The Eco committee consists of a group of pupil members
from Junior Start through to S6 working with staff and occasionally parent volunteers. The
aim of the committee is to raise awareness of all issues relating to the environment, globally
as well as locally, and is done through various initiatives led by pupils.
Tree Tops Eco Club ( J4-S2 )
Pupils will have the opportunity to participate in
den building, fire making, whittling wood,
gardening, cooking over the fire, building bug
hotels and many more fun activities. Wellingtons
and waterproofs are a must, just in case it rains.
13
14
Sport and Outdoor Education
At Beaconhurst sport and outdoor education are an established part of both the curriculum and
extra-curricular programme. There is a wealth of opportunities for our children to try a wide range
of activities, develop their skills and make sport and the outdoors an established part of their
everyday lives. We believe that commitment and passion for activities are best developed in a
progressive and stimulating environment. This has formed the basis for our sport and outdoor
learning pathways which strive to develop the skills and qualities of our children throughout their
time at Beaconhurst.
This section will inform you of sport and outdoor clubs which will run in the year ahead. Due to the
seasonal nature of some of the activities, a term timetable will be published which outlines the clubs
and activities that are taking place that term.
Sport








Tennis
Triathlon
Hockey
Golf
Swimming
Athletics
Gymnastics
Other Sports
Outdoor Education









Water Sports
Living Outdoors
Duke of Edinburgh
Mountain biking
Climbing
Winter sports
Outdoor Learning Weeks
S5 Leadership Exercise
Other Outdoor Pursuits
15
Sport
Tennis
Tennis is one of our key sports at Beaconhurst. There is a pathway which runs throughout
the school and develops the skills and abilities of our pupils. Tennis is offered as part of the
school physical education curriculum and all pupils have an experience of taking part in the
sport. Alongside this, there is an extra-curricular club which offers
lots of opportunities for pupils to further develop their skills and
gain some match play experience.



Beaconhurst minis (Junior Start 2- Junior 2)
Beaconhurst mini match play (Junior 3 – Junior 4)
Beaconhurst mini leagues (Juniors 5 and 6)
Our school programme is supported through the national governing body of sport Tennis
Scotland. Our involvement with the national body supports our grassroots development in
Junior School and offers an opportunity to support young players who show potential in
tennis in early years. A development squad has been established specifically to target small
groups of pupils who show potential in their sport. Pupils who show potential in tennis may
be offered a tennis scholarship. These will be offered in conjunction with the national
governing body of sport, Tennis Scotland. Pupils who become tennis scholars will join the
National Academy programme which is run at the Gannochy National Tennis Centre. These
athletes will be offered greater levels of support and academic flexibility to allow them to
take part in sport at the highest level, while at the same time continuing to achieve
academically.
Triathlon
Triathlon is one of our key sports at
Beaconhurst. The 3 components of
triathlon which include swimming, cycling
and running are offered as part of the
school physical education curriculum and
from Junior 3 all pupils will have had an
experience of taking part in the sport.
Alongside this, there is provision of an extra-curricular triathlon club which offers lots of
opportunities for pupils to further develop their skills and gain some competitive
experience.
16
The development squads provide a great introduction to the sport. They work towards
pupils taking part in their first ever triathlon event. Pupils who show promise will be invited
to join one of our competition squads. These sessions prepare pupils for competition in the
sport and will plan a personal events programme for the year.




Junior Development Club (Junior 3- Junior 6)
Senior Development Club (Transition- S6)
Beaconhurst Competition Squad
Performance Conditioning Session
At the highest level of performance athletes who show exceptional promise and have been
selected by Triathlon Scotland may be offered a triathlon scholarship. These athletes will be
offered greater levels of support and academic flexibility to allow them to take part in sport
at the highest level, while at the same time continuing to achieve academically.
Hockey
Hockey is the main team sport at Beaconhurst.
It is incorporated into the Physical Education
curriculum from Junior 3. At this stage a form
of mini hockey is taught which develops basic
skills and tactics, with modified equipment
and small sided conditioned games. In Junior
6 hockey forms part of the Beaconhurst games
programme and pupils receive a double period
of hockey, in addition to their physical education lesson each week. This is provided
throughout the school into Senior 6.
In Transition and S1 small sided 8-aside games provide an ideal introduction to the
competitive environment. Mini leagues allow the pupils to develop their game playing skills
in weekly matches.
In Seniors 2 and 3 both girls and boys can be selected to represent the school in under 15
squads. These teams have regular fixtures with a number of schools. In Seniors 4, 5 and 6
Beaconhurst have a 1st XI team for both boys and girls. Ability, effort and commitment form
the basis for the selection into senior squads.
A coach mentoring scheme has been developed in partnership with the University of Stirling
to support hockey provision at Beaconhurst.



Transition and S1 Hockey
Under 15 Hockey
1st XI Hockey
17
Golf
Golf is one of our key sports at Beaconhurst. The practice areas and
9 hole par 3 course at the University of Stirling provide an ideal base
to learn key skills. Our children are introduced to the sport in Junior
School as part of our junior golf programme. These sessions are
school based. In senior school specific skills are developed including
putting, short game, long game, playing and the golfer’s code.



Starter Golf (Junior 1-Junior 3)
Junior Golf (Junior 4- Junior 6)
Senior Golf (Transition – S6)
For talented golfers, a scholarship may be available. Coaching and support will be provided
through the University of Stirling Golf Futures programme. These athletes will be offered
greater levels of support and academic flexibility to allow them to take part in sport at the
highest level, while at the same time continuing to achieve academically
Swimming
All our pupils receive swimming lessons from
Junior 1. Our lessons take place at the
National Swimming Academy at the University
of Stirling, which provides an excellent
teaching environment for both beginners and
competitive swimmers.
Our swimming club has a lunch time training session and works towards a number of events
throughout the year. Pupils from Junior 3 upwards are invited to take part in club activity
Athletics
There is a wide range of opportunities open to pupils who
want to develop their athletic abilities. In the second term
all pupils take part in our annual school cross country
championships. Pupils in both Junior and Senior School are
selected to take part in the Stirling Schools’ Cross Country
Championships which takes place in early March. Pupils
may gain entry through this into regional finals. We select
pupils to take part in the Scottish Schools’ Cross Country
Championships.
All pupils take part in athletics as part of the Physical Education curriculum. These sessions
lead towards a number of athletics events throughout the summer term.
18



Stirling Schools Primary Athletics Championships
Forth Valley Regional Athletics Championships
Scottish Schools Athletics Championships
We have an athletics club which is open to pupils from Junior 5 to Seniors 6

Beaconhurst Athletics Club
Gymnastics
Our school gymnastics club aims to develop a range of skills
across floor, beam and vault. The children will refine basic skills,
be introduced to some more challenging skills and be
encouraged to try a range of different gymnastics disciplines.
The club is open to pupils from Junior 3 to Senior 6.

Beaconhurst Gymnastics Club
Other Sports
Squash ( Tr –S6 )
Learn the basic skills: forehand and back hand drives,
boasts and other drills to improve skills. The sessions
will normally finish with a game.
Football ( Tr – S2 )
An opportunity for footballers to train and form a school team
for matches against other schools. Training takes place in the
new all weather facility at Stirling University
19
Taekwon Do ( J1-J6 )
Taekwon-Do is a Korean martial art and can be described as the
scientific use of the body for self defence. The Beaconhurst Club
Instructor is Ms Liane Rooney, a former World and European
Taekwon-Do Champion. She currently holds the rank of 6th Degree
Black Belt and is the current Female Coach for the Scottish National
Team.
Summer term Thursday activities ( Tr-S3 )
The activities are varied and run during the summer term. Pupils have the opportunity to
take part in activities such as canoeing, cricket, tennis, mountain biking and athletics. There
are usually eight activities which vary from year to year.
Outdoor Education
Water Sports
The watersports theme runs from Junior
School through to S6 with challenge and
exploration at every level. The Junior School
Paddlesport Club in the Summer Term is open
to children from J3.
From Transition
watersports are offered as part of the Physical
Education programme. Once children enter
the Duke of Edinburgh Scheme, canoeing may be used to fulfil the Physical section, which
may in turn lead to Canoe Expeditions for Gold Award groups.




Junior School Paddlesport Club (Junior 3 to Junior 6)
After School Kayaking (Transition to Senior 3)
Duke of Edinburgh Physical Section Canoeing (Senior 3 – Senior 6)
Gold Duke of Edinburgh Canoe Expeditions (Senior 5 – Senior 6)
The School is linked with Canoe Scotland the National Governing Body for Paddlesport. This
opens up options for children to take part in Paddlepower Awards for young people under
15; Star Tests aimed at over-16s; safety and rescue training and even coaching and
leadership awards.
20
Living Outdoors
The first skill of anyone enjoying the outdoors as
a recreation or vocation is to be able to move
around and live in the environment.
At
Beaconhurst we start this straight away with
Forest Schools Sessions from Nursery. Once they
join Junior School they may choose to be part of
Woodworms, the bushcraft club for younger
pupils. At J3 we start the National Navigation
Awards and give the children an experience of orienteering. In the Lower School
Residential, children get the chance to put these skills in context in our outdoor learning
residential. At S2 the pupils do their first expedition leading up to Duke of Edinburgh
Awards and remotely supervised expeditions from S3.
Duke of Edinburgh
All Beaconhurst pupils join the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme at
the start of S3 and complete the expedition sections of Bronze in S3
and Silver in S4. Each of these awards has additional sections:
Physical, Skills and Volunteering. The pupils are guided through
these sections, which typically involve School activities and
commitment outside school. The aim is that all pupils have the
opportunity to achieve their Silver Award by the end of S4 or early in
S5, depending on their age.
Once pupils pass their 16th birthday in S5 they can register for the Gold Award. This contains
the same four sections: Expedition, Physical, Skills and Volunteering but also an additional
residential section. At Beaconhurst, Gold Expeditions are run every year and other sections
are supported as required. We hope that most pupils who choose Gold Duke of Edinburgh
will accomplish this significant National Award before the end of S6
21
Mountain Biking
Mountain biking is a growing sport in Scotland and we’re very proud of our accomplished
competition bikers at Beaconhurst. To increase the quality of off-road cycling throughout
the school we’ve added off-road cycling skills to the syllabus, introductory cycling sessions
for Junior School children. Brand new for the 2013 to 2014 session is the Trailblazers Club
which offers easy off-road cycling to children from J4. For those who get the mountain
biking bug we offer the national Go-Mountainbiking scheme as part of the Senior School
Mountain Bike Club.




Introductory Cycling Lessons ( Nursery to J2)
Off-road biking skills (J1 to J3)
Trailblazers (J3 to S4)
Mountain Bike Club (Senior School)
The school is now able to train and assess all five levels of the GoMountainbiking award scheme. There may also be opportunities
for children to work towards national leadership awards and
technical maintenance qualifications.
Rock Climbing and Mountaineering
After pupils first experiences of climbing during
Junior School Activities Week and Transition/Senior
Outdoor Education there are further opportunities to
gain climbing skills and confidence. We are now
offering a regular Climbing Club for Senior School
children at Beaconhurst. The focus of this is outdoor
rock climbing but we’ll make use of various indoor
climbing facilities to get the most out of every
session.


Rock Climbing Club (Transition to S6)
Winter Mountaineering ( S3 to S6 )
The Mountaineering Council of Scotland now support the new National Indoor Climbing
Award Scheme. This is a five-level scheme offering fun, challenge and development to
participants at every age and stage.
22
Winter Sports
The Junior School Programme now includes beginner ski
sessions at Firpark for J1 and J2 children. In the winter
months there are Saturday trips for snowboarders and
skiers to Scottish snow - when it’s available! For those
who develop an interest there will be annual
opportunities to ski overseas.
 Beginner Ski Sessions (Junior 1 and Junior 2)
 Scottish Snow (Intermediate skiers and boarders of
all ages)
 Annual Ski Trip (Transition to Senior 6)
Outdoor Learning Weeks
Learning outside the classroom is an enriching experience for our pupils. It starts in Junior 1
where they learn about bush craft, bug hunting and other outdoor pursuits and by S4
they’re in Aviemore taking on the challenges of Duke of Edinburgh expeditions.



J1-3 Outdoor Learning Week
J4-6 Adventure Days
Tr-S4 Senior School Outdoor Education Week
Descriptions of the weeks are given below
J1-3 Outdoor Learning Week
During a week in May pupils take part in outdoor activities each day. These include bug
hunting, tree rubbing, bush craft, a sensory trail, scavenge hunting & safety with fire.
Investigation, recording skills, physical exercise, observation, self awareness, understanding
risk and a love and appreciation of the outdoors will be the focus of the learning and
teaching for the week.
23
J4-6 Adventure Days
The week after the J4-6 trip, J4, J5 and J6 children participate in an outdoor learning
experience. This includes paddle sports on Stirling University Loch, problem solving and an
adventure in the local area. Whilst the focus will be on learning, they will be a fun days and
the children will be working in small teams. They will be outdoors all day (whatever the
weather) and have a packed lunch away from school.
Outdoor Education Week Tr – S4
Outdoor Education Week takes place every
year around the second week in June. For
Transition and S1 pupils, the first half of the
week consists of school based trips and the
second half is a residential outing to the
outdoor centre of Ardroy. S2 to S4 spend the
week at Cairngorm Lodge near Aviemore
where they use the stunning Cairngorms as a backdrop for their activities, which include
Duke of Edinburgh expeditions, rope centres, biking, sailing and canoeing. The aims of the
programme are to: enjoy living and working together in a different environment, develop
self-reliance in more challenging surroundings and develop an awareness of, and sensitivity
to, the needs and abilities of others.
S5 Leadership Exercise
The Leadership Exercise is a physically and mentally challenging outdoor learning experience
for all S5 pupils. It provides an opportunity for senior pupils to practice their leadership
skills in real situations and understand the characteristics of a good leader. In 2013
participants found “Operation Independence” in Stirling, and Glen Earn and Glen Almond
immensely rewarding, insightful and fun! In 2014 we are delighted to have support from
The Royal Navy & Royal Marines.
Other Outdoor Pursuits
Horse riding J3 - S2
Small group riding lessons for beginners or riders with a
little experience take place at Drumbrae Farm. Each lesson
is approximately an hour long and riders benefit from
instruction from a BHS instructor on safe well behaved
ponies. Lessons are conducted in an indoor area or
sometimes riders go out on a hack.
24
25
Expressive Arts
The Expressive Arts form an important part of our curriculum and also offer a wealth of
opportunities outside the classroom. Students can, for example, learn to play a musical
instrument, sing in the choir, learn ballet or perform at the MacRobert Theatre. Learning
new skills, working collaboratively and performing on a regular basis are all part of
Expressive Arts at Beaconhurst.
This section will inform you of the Expressive Arts clubs which run this session. Due to the
seasonal nature of some of the activities a term timetable will be published, which outlines
the clubs and activities that take place that term.
The clubs / activities have been grouped together as follows, and descriptions of each can
be found below





Choir
Drama
Orchestra and Bands
Music Teaching
Dance
Choir
The choirs are a core part of our Expressive Arts offer and regularly perform in public
Junior Choir ( J4-J6 )
Junior choir is a compulsory activity for J4, J5
and J6. Pupils rehearse various songs and gain
experience in harmony singing at an early age.
They regularly perform in public, including the
Harvest concert, Christmas concert, Carol
service and Spring concert.
26
Senior School Choir ( S1-S6 )
The Senior Choir is open to any pupil from S1 upwards, although only boys with changed
voices can join. The choir enjoys a high profile in the school and the community, regularly
performing ambitious pieces in SATB harmony. All pupils who study music at a certificate
level are expected to join.
Drama
Starting with small scale presentations in Junior
School Drama Club, by S4 our students are
performing in the MacRobert Theatre at Stirling
University. There’s also an opportunity to gain
formal qualifications through LAMDA.
Drama club ( Autumn – Junior Drama Club J4-J6;
Spring – Senior Drama Club Tr-S6 )
Junior Drama Club will rehearse and devise a small-scale presentation, which is performed
in the Cameron Hall towards the end of the Autumn term.
The focus of Senior Drama Club depends on the size of the group and what the group would
like to do. Previous Drama clubs have presented Shakespeare at the MacRobert and made
short films. Any presentation will be done before the end of the Spring term.
LAMDA ( J4-S6 )
The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts
qualifications allow experimentation with a wide range of
styles and techniques of acting and improvisation. The classes
are designed to encourage confidence, co-operation, problem
solving and negotiation.
27
Expressive Arts performance ( S4-6 )
All pupils from Senior 4 to Senior 6 take part in a musical, staged in the MacRobert Arts
Centre at the University of Stirling, either performing, working on elements behind the
scenes, in the band or as part of the media group. Through this, a great sense of team spirit
prevails with each individual contributing to the overall success of the production. In recent
years, performances of Les Miserables, Guys & Dolls, How To Succeed in Business Without
Really Trying and Fiddler On The Roof have been staged.
Orchestras and Bands
Working collaboratively in an orchestra or band is
great fun and develops strong team working skills;
working together is an essential life skill. Our
students also have the opportunity to play in the
jazz band and in the prestigious WOSIS orchestra.
Junior School Orchestra ( J3-J6 )
The Junior Orchestra is currently run by our Woodwind specialist, Miss Taylor. It is open to
any Junior School pupil who learns an orchestral instrument and who is thought to be at a
level suitable for the group. They regularly perform at school concerts.
African Music Workshop ( J4-J6 )
Pupils will explore African djembe drumming and percussion as well as African song and
storytelling. There will be lots of opportunity to be creative and to work towards a
showcase for family and friends.
Senior School Orchestra ( Tr-S6 )
Senior instrumentalists meet to prepare for concerts and to gain experience in ensemble
playing. Sometimes the rehearsals are for sections only (e.g. strings), allowing pupils to
learn more challenging parts.
28
Jazz band ( J1- J6 )
The Jazz band is coached by our Brass specialist, Mr Petrie.
It is currently available as a jazz training group for juniors,
although this focus can change from year to year depending
on which age groups would most benefit. The jazz band has previously performed at jazz
festivals and SCIS meetings, as well as concerts in school.
Folk Group ( Tr-S6 )
The group is for pupils that play or sing and enjoy performing contemporary Folk Music.
Currently our repertoire involves music by the Civil Wars (the band) and Mumford and Sons.
Along with the contemporary, we are also looking to explore the more traditional side of
Folk music, so bring along your fiddles, guitars, mandolins, bodhrans, cajons and anything
else you might have and join in.
Music Teaching
Instrumental music lessons are taught by our team of highly qualified visiting teachers,
many of whom are professional players. We currently offer tuition in: flute, recorder, oboe,
clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, French horn, violin, viola, cello, double bass,
drumkit, orchestral percussion, voice, guitar, piano and electric keyboard.
Lessons are normally conducted during the school day, although arrangements can be made
to have lessons at lunchtime or before/after school, when suitable.
Dance
Dance is becoming an ever more popular activity with more prime time
television programmes highlighting the art form. The Dashing White Sergeant
and other ceilidh dances are taught during Physical Education in the Senior
school, and are also enjoyed in the Junior School. Students also have the
opportunity to take Ballet as a formal qualification.
Country Dancing ( J3-J6 )
The club gives J3-J6 pupils an opportunity to enjoy well known ceilidh dances . A new dance
is taught every few weeks.
Ballet ( Nursery – J6 )
The class provides pupils an opportunity to learn the basics and new skills in
ballet. Pupils work towards RADA (Royal Academy of Dramatic Art)
qualifications.
29