Eton has always been about more than a narrow educational experience. From the School’s very origins, both Music and Sport have been part of a boy’s experience and today these elements are joined by a wide range of possibilities, including Drama, the CCF, volunteering and a plethora of other activities from debating and bridge to polo and climbing. In addition, each weekday evening, there are often multiple society meetings, allowing boys to hear an eclectic range of speakers.
The co-curriculum at Eton is designed around three principles: performance, participation and enjoyment. Eton makes no apologies for striving for excellence in the classroom and the same is true in the co-curriculum. However, this does not mean simply stretching the best; it is also designed to stretch the rest. A mix of committed teachers working alongside professional coaches and other specialists ensure that all boys have the opportunity to develop skills in their chosen areas, whether that be on the sports field, in the world of performing arts or on a CCF camp. Boys are also able to access outstanding facilities across the whole co-curriculum.
National competitions and block fixtures against other schools ensure that sporty boys have competitive matches. This is supported by numerous internal house competitions that provide further opportunities for boys of all abilities. Elsewhere, our vast programme of concerts and plays allow boys the chance to grow as performers.
The co-curriculum taught me the most valuable lessons, whether it’s leading eight cadets in a section attack, or directing a multi-camera livestream. Eton’s structure allowed me to pursue a broad range of activities, developing me into someone who can give back to the community, as a musician in the National Youth Orchestra, a stage manager of a West End show at Eton, and a licensed swim coach.
Jeffrey, Cadet Head of Royal Air Force Section; Founder of Eton’s Digital Content Unit; Senior Technician in Theatre; Music Scholar; Oppidan Scholar; Academic Prefect; Secretary of Debating Society; Keeper of Swimming
hours is the weekly average total boys in a Boarding House spend playing sport.
To be at a school where I can have a choir practice in the morning, rugby training in the afternoon, followed by Wall Game, a band practice and a Society talk all in one day is something one will simply not be able to do later in life.
Rufus, 1st XV rugby player and music exhibitor
Alongside valuing performance, Eton believes that boys should be able to participate in as wide a range of activities as possible and that they should not be restricted to a narrow programme. The timetable is structured to allow boys to take part in multiple activities rather than having to choose just one. Boys can play a football match in the afternoon, go to a music rehearsal before supper and attend a society meeting in the evening. Although boys might excel in a particular area, they can also be involved in others, too. House plays and concerts ensure that all boys who want to perform have a chance to do so. Furthermore, boys have a great deal of autonomy over what they wish to do. Indeed, although there are myriad options available to boys, there is very little compulsion to do something they do not like.
This freedom of choice is linked to boys enjoying the co-curriculum. Although much is said about the co-curriculum in schools being about character building, Eton wants students to have fun and to leave with great memories that will last a lifetime. To help achieve this, we use student feedback to check that what we are offering is delivering what we want: improved well-being; higher self-esteem; opportunities to be stretched and challenged; and a sense of belonging to something bigger than oneself.
Leaders have designed and developed an exceptionally flexible and broad co-curricular programme which allows pupils an extremely high degree of freedom and autonomy to develop their interests and passions. Pupils participate in, and often run, the very large range of activities. As a result, they develop the skills needed for their future lives and achieve success. This provision is a significant strength of the school.
ISI report 2024
Sadly, for too many teenagers today, school is something they endure rather than enjoy. Our ambition is that boys look back on their years at Eton as a happy time when they experienced a range of activities that broadened their horizons and helped develop them into rounded and confident adults. Indeed, experience suggests that for many Old Etonians, their fondest memories are associated with the co-curriculum.
- 25 sports offered
- 50 music ensembles and choirs
- 18 plays staged each year
- 300 society meetings each year
