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Beyond the Classroom

At Thomas Mills High School & Sixth Form our programme of extra-curricular activities is rich and varied and very much part of our ethos. Many of our staff are generous contributors to this in some way.

Some clubs offer the chance to pick up vital additional skills beyond the classroom while others just give students the chance to have fun and let off steam.

Competitive sport

There is a very strong tradition of competitive sport, with over 200 matches and tournaments each year at inter-school and inter-house level. Clubs are run at lunchtimes for both competitive sports and social activities throughout the year. School fixtures take place after school and house fixtures culminate with a Sports Day in July. The PE Department also organises regular trips to watch elite level sport as well as the annual ski trip.

Sports played at Thomas Mills include: Archery, Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Cricket, Darts, Dodgeball, Football, Hockey, Kinball, Netball, Rounders, Rugby, Softball, Table Tennis, Tennis, Trampolining, Ultimate Frisbee and X-Country.

Drama and Music

The school Drama productions are always one of the highlights of the year for students, parents and staff and have earned an excellent reputation.

We are particularly proud of the quality and variety of extra-curricular Music. Five choirs, two orchestras and numerous other instrumental ensembles provide opportunities for young musicians to perform at various concerts, competitions and on music tours abroad.

Whilst we have watched many talented students progress through the school and go on to further musical education and careers, our ethos is that music and drama is for all and the skills learned from performing are great life lessons.

We are also very privileged to have our own recording facility, The Gingerbread Studios. During our music technology clubs and in lessons, pupils use this industry-standard equipment to write and record their own music, with the assistance of a studio engineer.

Library – Lunchtime Activities

Our range of school activities can extend skills in a game or hobby a student already does at home, while also being a great opportunity to join likeminded others in a shared activity. Different clubs run at various points throughout the year with many of them taking place in the Library.

At Thomas Mills High School and Sixth Form, we believe that our Library should fuel our pupils and students’ imagination and thirst for knowledge, inspiring them to learn, no matter what their situation or background.

Find out more about our library here.

Clubs we regularly host include Archive Club, Cards and Comic Club, Chess Club, Film Club, Horrible Histories Club, International Space Station (Astro Pi) Coding Club, LEGO Robotics Club and Photography Club.

Leadership opportunities

There are plenty of opportunities for students to exercise responsibility in leadership at many levels. This may include taking on the role of senior students in the sixth form, being a member of one of the school councils, helping to organise Charity Day or being part of the paired reading and literacy schemes. Undertaking Language Leader and Sports Leader courses are also ways in which students learn to engage with their peers.

Duke of Edinburgh Award

A large number of students work towards the bronze, silver and gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award with weekend expeditions in the local area and further afield. Students can begin the bronze award in Year 9, silver in year 10 and gold across years 12 and 13.

Educational trips

There are numerous educational trips, some of which are local, and others, which include two well-established language exchanges, enable students to experience life and culture not just in Europe. There have even been expeditions to places as diverse as Botswana, Peru, Madagascar and Borneo in recent years. Malaysia is the next destination in 2026.


Educational Trips Gallery
Beyond the Classroom at Thomas Mills High School & Sixth Form in Framlingham

 

Here is a sample of what a week of extra-curricular activities for Year 7 and 8 might look like:

Monday

Junior Choir (13:20 – 13:55 LR1)
Cards and Comics (13:20-13:50 Library)
Girls Football (13:10-13:50 Fields)

Tuesday

Badminton Club (13:10-13:50 Sports Hall 1)
Year 7 Hockey (13:10-13:50 MUGA)
Year 8 Football Mixed (13:10-13:50 Fields)
Year 7 & 8 Rugby (13:10-13:50 Fields)

Wednesday

Chess Club (13:20-13:50 Library)

Basketball Club (13:10-13:50 Sports Hall 1)
Year 8 Hockey (13:10-13:50 MUGA)
Flute Choir (13:00 – 13:20 – LR1)

Second Orchestra at 1:20pm in LR1

Thursday

Second Orchestra (9am LR1)
Film Club (13:20-13:50 Library)
Year 7 Netball (13:10-13:50 MUGA)
Year 7 Football Mixed (13:10-13:50 Fields)

Friday

Multi Sports Club (13:10-13:50 Sports Hall 1)

 

Please see the subjects below to find out more about our current extra-curricular activities:

Learn More