Art clubs provide an opportunity to enjoy access to a wide range of art materials and processes. Pupils choosing to come along are encouraged to pursue individual projects; the sessions are not usually taught as lessons but instruction, assistance and inspiration are provided as necessary! The aim is for everyone to enjoy creating art work of their own in sessions that are lively and informal.

Some clubs may be for seniors or juniors only and some have a specific theme, e.g. Thursday is pottery-only this term.

For an hour, three evening a week, during the summer term we offer an Athletics Club. We have an exceptional record in Athletics.

Each year starts with the Suffolk Athletic Association Track and Field Championships into which we enter our top Year 6, 7 and 8 pupils. For the last 10 years we have always returned with County champions in a variety of disciplines. The school enters pupils into the East Area IAPS championships for both Senior and Junior age groups.

The Juniors compete at the University stadium in Norwich and annually hold their own against the other schools. The Seniors travel to the Bedford International Stadium to compete in a competition that offers qualification to the National IAPS Athletics Championships held in Birmingham. During the last ten years we have sent, on average, at least two pupils through. In 2011 we had four athletes representing the East Region. Of these four we achieved a fifth, a fourth and a third place in different discipline but the highlight was in the Under 12 Boys Javelin where the Brandeston pupil was crowned National Champion.

However the greatest benefit to our Athletics programme is that it is accessible to everyone. We run a ‘standards’ system throughout the Summer term. Every child has their achievement in whichever discipline entered into the computer. Each week charts are displayed and the children can check how they have done and if they have improved from the previous occasion. In this way all pupils can be rewarded for their own progress. To have jumped two centimetres further in the long jump or a run a second  quicker in the 100m can bring as much joy and sense of achievement as any National accolade.

Badminton was introduced as an Activity for Years 5-8 in 2009 and has proved to be very popular, particularly with juniors.

As a response to this interest we have established regular badminton coaching courses in the October half term holidays, taken by Steve Morley who is a Badminton Coach from Cambridgeshire.

In the summer term we now hold both Junior and Senior House Badminton competitions, which involves two children representing each house (boys or girls) competing in doubles matches for the House trophies.

It is also our intention as our standards improve to enter competitions in the region.

An activity for beginners and novices who want t learn how to play the ancient strategic game of chess.  The course lasts a term and introduces players to the history and aims of the game.  Pupils will also be introduced to the board, the pieces, the moves and special moves so that they can capture opponents King. Ultimately their aim is to join the ‘Chess Club’ so that skills can be advanced to tournament level.

We use Minimus, a unique Latin course for younger children based on a real family who lived in Vindolanda in 100A and Minimus the mouse.

The aim is to provide a stimulating activity for our young gifted and talented children. They will understand more about the structure of English and this will also enhance and extend their English vocabulary.  Of course learning Latin will also help them with their acquisition of a modern foreign language. The course is taught in a fun way, based on the adventures of a cartoon mouse. It is intellectually challenging and stimulating. The use of a real family and artefacts also provides a cultural background, teaching about the Romans and their links with Britain.
The texts are presented in cartoon form and supplemented by online activities. Basic grammar, such as noun and verb declensions are taught.

Latin is continued as a timetable activity in Year 7.

Come along and meet a different circle of children. Have a go at a variety of board games or bring your own if you wish.

All girls in Years 3-6 are welcome to come and join the 1st Brandeston Brownies, part of the Saxtead and District Division. A weekly subscription is to be paid. Currently £1.50 We meet at the village hall in Brandeston, and the girls from school are taken there by minibus and have a snack and a drink on arrival.

When girls join us, they will learn about the Girl Guiding and take their Brownie Promise in a low key celebration usually 4 - 6 weeks into their time with us.

Our activities are wide and varied from indoor or outdoor games, art and craft, themed nights, fundraising for local and national causes, walks, overnight camps and much more. The girls also work towards the traditional Brownies Badges, some of them independently and some of them through our meetings.

In this activity we improve and develop our hockey skills in preparation for the hockey season in the Spring Term.

The boys refine individual skills like passing, shooting and tackling, work on their stick control and play small sided games and matches.

Throughout the school year we hope that about 100 children from Year 3 to Year 8 will experience our cooking activity.

Being taught to cook helps children to learn about nutrition and healthy eating and introduce skills to last them a lifetime. They have the opportunity to work together as a team and plan what they would like to make. For example bread, flap jacks, pizza, chocolate brownies, fruit salads, cheese straws, muffins and the list goes on.

Cooking provides a great way for children to express themselves and enjoy their creations and also children are more likely to eat whatever they have had a hand in making!

A bustling, creative activity open to boys and girls Year 3 – Year 8 which offers the opportunity to learn to sew, knit and craft a number of different toys, objects or even cards.

Being taught the art of threading and using a needle will be a skill that will come in handy on numerous occasions when a loose button needs sewn on or a hem on trousers needs fixing. Using a sewing machine is useful too and the pupils learn to guide the pressure foot over their fabrics to machined items that are then hand finished.

This is an opportunity for children to acquire some basic sewing techniques and to take their imagination into whole new realms of creativity.

Cross-Country Club runs on a Tuesday and Thursday lunch-time. 

We are very proud of our tradition of producing high quality cross-country and middle distance runners and are current East Anglian Prep Schools Champions!  However, cross-country club is far more than this. It is a chance for all boys and girls from Junior to Senior Prep, to enjoy running and to improve their health and fitness.

For some children, this will mean the dedication of hill work, fartlek and interval running, for others it is the simple pleasure of enjoying a gentle jog with friends in our beautiful grounds.

This activity usually takes place on alternate years.

Each week we start in the classroom learning the theoretical aspects of safer cycling before moving outside, initially to the car park and then on to the public road, to practice what we have learnt.

The children grow in confidence and finish with a greater insight in to how to stay safe on our country lanes.

 The children learn from law enforcement trainer Windy Miller.

They are taught an effective defensive tactics system. The areas covered in the system are tactical communication, use of force from low to high level.

The law and self-defence including relevant legislation, techniques from karate, jiu jitsu, judo and escrima wrestling . 

Tuesdays DT activity is for Years 7 and 8 and it allows them to work on projects of their own choosing in an area of the subject they wish to pursue, from woodwork to computer-aided design. Projects can be short (one week) or long (the whole term).

Thursday DT activity is for Year 6  and it allows them to work on projects of their own choosing in an area of the subject they wish to pursue, from woodwork to computer-aided design. Projects can be short (one week) or long (the whole term).

Fencing is a sport steeped in history and is one of the few sports to have been in the modern Olympics since its revival in the early twentieth century.

Brandeston Hall offers both Foil and Sabre Fencing led by a professional coach. Fencing is a great sport which offers many benefits such as; hand eye co-ordination, decision making skills, tactical thinking and is a great work out and most of all is fun. So come and pit your wits against you’re an opponent in a sword fight.

The activity is offered to children in years 5 to 8. It is an opportunity for them to enjoy another sport apart from those they experience in timetabled games sessions.

The activity involves taking part in a competitive match which may or may not be part of a mini league.

All sessions take place at Cretingham Golf Club in the Summer Term.

All the children get the chance to improve in all aspects of the game: - putting, pitching and driving, which culminates in the chance to play part of the course in the last week of the term.

Horse riding takes place every Friday at Valley farm riding centre located in the beautiful Suffolk countryside. Riding lessons are either held in the indoor arenas or weather permitting on the floodlit ménage.

Lessons are provided on carefully selected horses and ponies providing a range of sizes, types and temperaments to suit all, from total beginners to the more experienced rider.

There are also opportunities for cross country jumping and hacks around the farm and woodland.

Ciao!

Travelling to Italy to ski this winter or preparing to soak up the sun there next summer? Then you need to choose this activity. Learn a little about the country and how to greet and introduce yourself to Italians, how to order you favourite ice cream flavour, ask and give directions and much more. Ci vediamo.

This is a fun activity for boys and girls in Years 7 & 8 which involves playing a modified game of rounders which can be accessed and enjoyed by both beginners and more experienced players.

Tuesdays are set aside for music activity. 4pm there is Girls’ Vocals where we learn songs in parts both from the classical to more modern ears. That is followed by Orchestra at 4.40pm. At the moment we are playing a selection of movements from Pictures at an Exhibition by Mussorgsky and the Farandole by Bizet.

Orchestra is followed by the Wild Bunch. This rock band rehearses from 5.20 till 6pm and the music ranges from pure rock music to accompanying school productions. Invited guests help out depending on what is needed.
All rehearsals are carried out in a jolly but disciplined manner with the main focus improving all aspects of singing and playing.

Netball activities for Years 5 & 6 and 7 & 8 take place on Fridays in the Autumn Term. This is to prepare for the following term’s games sessions and matches.

A mixture of practice through drills and games are used to revise and reinforce current skills and introduce new ones.

An introduction to the basic skills of rugby. Handling skills are practiced a great deal, and the boys learn some of the techniques of contact, especially tackling.

A session to work on team tactics in preparation for matches. Basic skills are practices – handling, contact skills, lineouts, scrums and back play in readiness for matches.

A session for Years 6 and 7 to train together in the spring term. Basic skills are practiced – handling in particular.

Brandeston Hall’s location is entirely suited to sailing.

Children of all abilities sail terrors and fevers at the Aldeburgh Yacht Club when the weather is conducive, typically this takes place throughout the summer term and some of the autumn term. 

We have some very competent sailors at Brandeston many of whom are working through their RYA qualifications and competing at Club level and beyond.

Aldeburgh hosts one of the most reputable Junior Regatta’s in the Country well attended by Brandeston pupils and parents.  

Senior Cricket Nets in available to boys and girls in Years 7 and 8. 

It is an opportunity to improve your batting and bowling before (at Winter Nets) and during the season (summer Nets). 

With our expert coaching team, we work hard to improve technique and to prepare for matches in the summer. 

Nets happen in the Rowley Hall in the winter and using one of 6 our outdoor nets or on the square in the summer.

This new exciting activity is due to start in summer 2012 in purpose built all-weather 10m range on the perimeter of the grounds using gas powered .117 bolt action air rifles. 

Target rifle shooting is a great discipline in it own right and also prepares the children for .22 shooting on the indoor range at Framlingham College and then to 5.56 and 7.62 shooting at Bisley ranges at senior school. 

An extremely energetic and creative 40 minutes with a young dance teacher, Jay, who gives the group a wonderful opportunity to develop their rhythm and performance skills.

Remembering the routines occurs through step-by-step instruction to up-beat music, current music.

A great way to end the week by releasing the last bundle of stored energy!

On Tuesday and Thursday afternoons the children are taken up to college in order to use the larger pool facilities.

The emphasis is firmly on enjoyment and improving water skills in order for pupils to become confident in the water.

There are both junior and senior sessions. Stronger, more able swimmers can use the time to improve their lane swimming techniques.

If you like making things then this is the activity for you.  In Trains, Boats and Planes pupils are asked to purchase a model (Airfix/Revell/Tamiya) of their choice and then for 45 minutes a week we glue, paint and decorate our models thus bringing them to life.  An array of models can be purchased online and in various good craft stores including Bill Bulstrodes in Framlingham.  It might also make an ideal Christmas present for the aspiring model maker!! 

Models usually come with guidance as to the skill levels required for successful construction.  Level 1 & 2 would be suitable for beginners whilst a level 3 and 4 would prove a challenge for the older pupils. Some models come with paints but over the years I have assembled a collection that would suit most craft.  So if it’s an Apache helicopter, the Jaguar XKR or the Supermarine Spitfire you want to make, this is the activity for you. 

For the last 4 weeks leading up to Christmas Year 2 Christmas Cooking Club takes place.

This is a paid activity open to children in Year 2, with limited spaces available. Each week the children prepare tasty treats to take home to share. It is very much a fun-filled hour and all the children are excited to be developing their cooking skills.

The children work independently in small groups and so far have made cheesy snowmen, Christmas Chocolates and mincemeat.