Enrichment

The HENLEY College is committed to giving every full-time student a wide and balanced education. In addition to your main course of study you will be able to choose from an impressive array of subjects and activities which will complement and enrich your stay at College. The Enrichment Programme includes such options* as:

Amnesty International
Ancient Languages
Book Group
Bridge
Ceramics
Choir
Cheerleading
Christian Union
Cinema Club
Community Volunteering
Creative Writing
Dance
Expedition 2012
Instrumental Jazz
Jewellery Making
Journalism
Life Drawing
Mandarin
Print Making
Public Speaking
Self Defence
Spanish (Beginners)
Theatre Company

*Subject to change, depending on demand and staff availability.

Also see The Performing Arts as Enrichment

We are rightly proud of the wide and varied programme of sport, health and human development, which is supported by a teaching team of full and part-time specialist staff.

There are a large number of options from which to choose*, comprising:

Aerobics
Badminton
Basketball
Boxing
Canoeing
Cricket
Fitness
Football
Golf
Hockey
Netball
Olympic Weight Lifting
Pilates
Rowing
Rugby
Skiing
Table Tennis
Tae-Kwon Do
Tai Chi
Tennis
Trampolining
Uni Hoc
Yoga

You can also choose to join the Sports Development Programme.

The sports above are offered at any level of skill from beginners to College, County or even National standard.

COMMUNITY SPORTS LEADER AWARD*

This is an ideal programme for enthusiastic and well-motivated students, keen to encourage participation in physical recreation within the community. You will be able to combine practical and theory sessions with work placements in the community. Through these sessions you will develop the skills, ability and confidence to coach and lead groups of all ages in physical and recreational activities. It leads to the Central Council for Physical Recreation Community Sports Leader Award Certificate, nationally recognised by sports and community groups.

*Students wishing to take the CSLA will need appropriate availability within their timetables.

There will also be the opportunity to gain NGB coaching qualifications through the Development Programmes and other routes. You would then be able to use the skills gained to coach at local schools and clubs.

We aim to encourage good health, fitness and enjoyment for all and you are encouraged to participate in at least one sport and preferably more.

Facilities include sports grounds and halls, and a fitness room. We also have regular access to local facilities such as Henley Indoor Sports Centre, and the all-weather pitch.

THE PERFORMING ARTS

The College has Directors of Music and Drama who will be involved in directing and developing the performing arts not only within the College but also in the community.

DRAMA

The HENLEY College Theatre Group mounts one large whole College production a year and welcomes students from all courses as part of the College’s Enrichment Programme. Students are able to work as performers or as part of a technical crew. All students audition for their places in September and the production normally takes place in December.

This production alternates between a musical and a play to allow all students a greater chance to participate. Previous productions have included We Will Rock You, Macbeth, Hair, Jesus Christ Superstar, Return to the Forbidden Planet and Cabaret.

The College also stages, as part of its Performing Arts courses, three further productions a year. At least one of these productions is staged in a professional arts venue. The A Level Theatre Studies students also produce performance work for the public in the College year.

DANCE

The College offers dance as a subject in its own right at A Level and as part of all its vocational performing arts courses.

The Dance department also provides opportunities to dance as part of the College’s Enrichment Programme. This might take the form of dance workshops or working closely alongside the Drama and Music departments on the Theatre Group production in December.

The Dance department stages, as part of all its courses, dance performances throughout the year culminating in a Dance Showcase evening in the final term.

MUSIC

There is a wide range of opportunities for performers and composers at The HENLEY College. The Enrichment Programme includes a variety of vocal and instrumental ensembles, which contribute on a regular basis to College recital evenings, as well as major local festivals and events. There is also a Band Showcase for aspiring rock stars! Musicians across the College can be given access to a variety of software packages for music and score production, including Sibelius, Cubase and Reason.

In recent years students have been able to work with eminent visiting composers and companies, including Barry Russell and Glyndebourne Opera, in preparation for world premiere performances at The Henley Festival, and with other prominent individuals from the music business, including the renowned singer-songwriter Sam Brown. College students have also had unique opportunities for performance, composition, arranging, recording and conducting offered by members of Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. The Urban Orchestra, encompassing a wide range of performers, genres and styles, and Vocal Group rehearse each week in preparation for performances in and outside of College. In addition, further projects are planned in association with the Henley branch of the brain injury charity Headway, and there will be a foreign tour in the summer term of 2011.

A major event in the College’s musical calendar is the December Musical Production, which is run in collaboration with the Drama and Dance departments. This provides numerous opportunities for musicians to get involved, as performers in the live band, members of the principal cast or chorus, or behind the scenes in connection with the rehearsal or music production process. Recent productions have included Hair (2002, Henley and two weeks at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe), Cabaret (2003), Grease (2004), Return to the Forbidden Planet (2005), We Will Rock You (2007), and The Who’s Tommy (2009).