Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) is a crucial component of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. It provides students with the opportunity to engage in a range of experiences outside the classroom, thereby helping them to develop key personal and social skills. Here we’ll take a closer look at what CAS is, why it’s important, and how students can get involved.
At its core, CAS is all about encouraging students to be proactive and engaged in their own development and that of the communities around them. This is achieved by participating in a range of experiences that promote creativity, physical activity, and community service. The idea is that by participating in these experiences, students will develop a range of skills and competencies that will serve them well both in their academic studies and beyond.
So, what are the different types of experiences that students can participate in as part of CAS? Well, there are three broad categories: creativity, activity, and service. Creativity experiences might include things like visual arts, music, theatre, or other forms of creative expression. Activity experiences might include physical activities like sports, dance, or outdoor adventures. And service experiences might involve volunteering in the local community, helping out at a charity event, or organising a community clean-up.
The key to getting the most out of CAS is to choose experiences that are meaningful to the student and that allow them to make a real impact in their community. This might mean volunteering at a local primary school, working on a community garden project, or helping to organise a fundraising event for a local charity. The important thing is that the experiences are chosen by the student and are driven by their own interests and passions. We have seen some fantastic CAS projects, ranging from musical outreach programmes, Thames river clean-ups and the organisation of a supply drive for a local summer school. CAS offers the platform for our students to engage with the community on global issues, helping them to become the informed and engaged citizens of the world we aim to develop here at Godolphin and Latymer.
Miss Lucy Graham (CAS Coordinator)