Co-Curricular Programme

Performing Arts

There are multiple performance opportunities at Westonbirt, with musicals, drama productions and dance showcases frequently staged in the Orangery Theatre. Students have even taken productions to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. 

A whole-school showcase production takes place each year – recent shows have included Beauty and the Beast and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Many students also choose individual or paired Speech and Drama or Speech Improvement lessons, working towards ESB and LAMDA examinations to build confidence and communication skills. 

Sport

Students are encouraged to be competitive, determined and to give their all, while also being reflective, supportive and fair-minded. Above all, we want pupils to enjoy sport. Where individuals show aptitude, the school nurtures their development and supports them throughout their sporting journey. 

The school’s major competitive sports for boys are rugby, hockey, cricket, athletics, swimming and tennis. For girls, the competitive sports are lacrosse, netball, swimming, tennis, athletics and cricket. We also run a successful equestrian team. Fixtures take place throughout the year against independent and local schools, and many students compete at county, regional, national and international level. 

Football, golf and basketball are also offered as co-curricular options, while the PE programme provides experience across a broad range of other sports including badminton, volleyball, rounders and softball. 

Find out more about our Sports Programme

Music

Music is at the heart of Westonbirt, with over two-thirds of students playing a musical instrument. Pupils enjoy a wide range of performance opportunities through concert evenings, recitals and musicals. We offer several choirs and ensemble groups, including our outstanding Chamber Choir, who have performed at Gloucester Cathedral and Westonbirt Arboretum’s Enchanted Christmas. 

Pupils are encouraged to learn an instrument or take up singing lessons if they wish to, gaining skills and enjoyment that can last a lifetime. 

Art

Spacious art studios and specialist teachers inspire students who regularly go on to study at prestigious art institutions.

We run regular exhibitions where pupils showcase their work, and organise trips to museums and galleries to enrich learning. Beyond the curriculum, there is an extensive range of creative co-curricular activities including photography, fine art, sewing, craft and upcycling, 3D design and more.