Shiplake College offers its students a wide range of subject options to study at GCSE and at A Level, but outside of the classroom, the College offers an even wider range of Co-Curricular activities. From Ballroom Dance tuition to Basketball and genealogy to cookery, Shiplake really does have something for everyone.
Car Maintenance
On Tuesday afternoons a group of mechanically-minded pupils are involved in a variety of hands on tasks in the DT workshop. They are working on a number of electric and petrol powered vehicles and are either disassembling them or bringing them back to life. Pupils are learning through doing! Knowing how engines work, what carburettors do or how to carry out a basic engine service will be just some of things pupils will discover along the way. Mr Hunt, the club leader, also plans on working on an old hovercraft and is aiming to bring it back to life with the assistance of the car maintenance club.
Archery
The archery club is headed by Mr Bluck, Assistant Housemaster of Everett. Mr Bluck leads half a dozen pupils from various year groups to the shooting range, just beyond the Boat House. Here, the boys are able to put their Robin Hood skills to the test and take it in turns to take aim, and…… fire! While precision and patience are important, the focus here is on having fun, and enjoying the experience of a true outdoor activity.
Chess Club
While you may expect to find many peculiar things in the Design Technology department, one thing you might not expect to find on a Tuesday afternoon is a dozen boys playing chess! Once a week, these boys meet to put their logic and judgement to good use, under Mr Brenton’s supervision. Whether the boys are new to chess or are seasoned professionals, the skills developed in chess teach valuable lessons in patience and, if the talent is there, could lead to competition with local schools.
