Sports and Activities Program

Signing up to participate in Upper School Sports and Activities is optional. However, once a student confirms that they would like to join a sport and/or activity, they are expected to honor that commitment. Varsity, JV, and JJV sports teams, Model United Nations, drama productions, and the yearbook may involve a greater time commitment of three or four days per week. Sports and activities are scheduled to meet at the end of the academic day, although students who elect to play on a team or who are involved in the activities already mentioned may also have evening and weekend commitments. The Sports and Activities Program is separate from the Physical Education curriculum, which is required for students in Grades 9 and 10 and is scheduled during the academic day.

The Sports and Activities Program is organized on a trimester basis, following the three seasons of interscholastic sports (fall, winter, and spring). The trimester commences with team tryouts. If a student is unable to participate in a sport or activity, a note from either a parent or the school nurse must be presented to the sport/activity teacher, who will then excuse the student from the session on that day. A student who is absent from school will automatically be excused. 

RECREATIONAL SPORTS

ACTIVITIES

The Duke of Edinburgh Award

This is a full-year program that requires the student to be involved in a variety of co-curricular activities. Each participant will develop an individual plan of activities after registration in September. The program allows students to improve their physical fitness, develop new skills, and participate in community service, as well as plan for an adventurous journey. The required time and commitment are flexible depending on the level that is chosen: Bronze, Silver, or Gold.

Travel Opportunities

Travel is an integral part of the TASIS England education and experience. It is by extending learning beyond the classroom, and by drawing on the cultural riches of Europe, that a TASIS England education becomes truly distinctive and enables our students to gain life skills and a first-hand perspective which would not be possible through classroom instruction alone.

Every year during October half-term week, exceptional travel opportunities are offered for all Upper School students (Grades 9-12). TASIS England organizes trips to several different destinations in Europe, such as Wales, Portugal, Spain, Croatia, Austria, Romania, Italy, and Greece. The trips are assigned by grade level. Parents are encouraged to sign up their child(ren) for an October trip online as soon as possible, once registration details are shared with them. The deadline for sign-ups is the first day of classes. All boarding students, all IB students, and all seniors (Grade 12) are required to participate in their course-related trip. Charges for October travel are included in the boarding tuition. For day students, the cost for the October trip is required to be met by the parents.

In addition to the traditional and popular October Travel Week, TASIS England offers optional Overnight Field Trips during February Break (these have included: Ski Trip to Switzerland, Romanian Children’s Relief Service Trip, and Romania Hope and Homes Service Trip) and during Spring Break (these have included: Borneo Rainforest Expedition, Puerto Rico or Peru Service Trip). Further educational travel offerings include: Environmental Science Field Studies in Devon, ISTA IB Theatre Festival, Harvard-MIT Mathematics Tournament, MUN Conferences, BFI Future Film Festival, and an Art History Trip to Paris. Varsity sports teams travel to mid-season and end-of-season tournaments.

Throughout the school year, Upper School subject teachers regularly take their classes to museums and other places of educational interest in London and the local area.

Weekend Student Activities

Educating beyond the classroom is integral to the TASIS England philosophy. We expect all of our young people to experience not only a rigorous academic program in the classroom and a diverse range of co-curricular activities, but also to spend their leisure time constructively, to take full advantage of their time in the UK, and to experience the rich culture all around them. To facilitate this quest, weekend trips to theatres, museums, theme parks, outdoor activities, and more are arranged through a program called GOCAT (Go Out Create A Trip). In this program, students are encouraged to initiate activities, in addition to other activities that have become traditional over the years. Bookings and the paperwork to run the GOCAT trips safely are completed by the Student Activities Coordinator or an experienced trip leader. The students are charged

£10 for the off-site GOCAT activities during sign-up to ensure their commitment. If they do not attend, they are charged the full price of the tickets.

In addition, many student-initiated and sponsored activities such as Open Mic Night, Dodgeball Tournament, Bubble Football, and Manhunt take place on campus on the weekends. As student leaders, Day Prefects play an important role in planning and running the on-campus GOCAT activities. As part of the GOCAT program every year, two traditional dances are organised. In August, the Back to School Dance welcomes the Upper School students to campus, and the Homecoming Dance also takes place during the First Semester. The traditional Junior-Senior Prom is organized for upperclassmen every year in the spring. All students in Grades 11 and 12 who attend the Junior-Senior Prom must purchase their subsidized ticket.