Enrichment

1. What even is enrichment?

Enrichment is everything you do outside your main subjects that helps you grow as a person, new skills, experiences, and opportunities that make you stand out. It’s about discovering what you enjoy, building confidence, and developing skills that prepare you for life after college.

2. Why is enrichment important to me?

Because it’s the part of college that’s all about you, your interests, your goals, and your future. Here’s what it gives you:

· Skills employers love: teamwork, communication, leadership, and initiative.

· A stronger CV or UCAS application: it shows you’ve gone beyond the basics.

· New experiences and friendships: you’ll meet people you wouldn’t normally cross paths with.

· A healthy balance alongside study: enrichment gives you space to do something different, recharge, and stay motivated.

· Confidence and self-awareness: you’ll learn what you’re good at (and maybe what you love doing).

In short: enrichment helps you become more than your grades.

3. How many enrichment hours do I have to do?

The Henley College expects every student to complete at least 50 hours of enrichment per academic year. That might sound like a lot, but it adds up quickly, especially when you’re involved in clubs, sports, or short courses.

4. How can I hit those 50 hours?

You can build your hours in different ways, or by mixing and matching:

· Performance Sport

· EPQ (Extended Project Qualification)

· Curriculum Enrichment (activities run by your subject areas)

· Central Enrichment (activities run by the central team)

You can stick with one type or combine a few — whatever fits best with your goals and timetable.

5. What are the enrichment periods on my timetable for?

Every student at The Henley College has three enrichment periods built into their timetable. You should use at least one of those slots for an enrichment activity, but you can do more if your timetable allows. The key is making it work around your main study commitments.

6. How do I choose a central enrichment activity?

At enrolment, you’ll complete an MS Form to tell us which activities interest you. You’ll then be assigned one of those options as part of The Henley College Central Enrichment Programme. If your first choice is full, don’t worry, you’ll still get something that suits your interests.

7. Can I change my enrichment activity?

Yes, you can switch activities as often as you like, unless you’re on a short course (like Driver Theory or British Sign Language). Once the short course ends, you can choose something new or return to your original club or society.

8. What’s the best way to plan my enrichment year?

A good approach is to join one club, sport, or society for the year, then add in short courses that interest you across the terms. That way, you build consistency, variety and easily reach your 50-hour target.

9. What if I don’t have a central enrichment activity assigned?

If you haven’t been assigned an enrichment activity yet, don’t worry, you will be allocated one that fits your timetable and interests. In the meantime, use your timetabled enrichment periods for private study or catch-up work until your confirmed activity begins.

10. My enrichment is on a day I’m not in college, what do I do?

No problem, you’ll need to choose a different enrichment that fits with your in-college timetable. We’ve got loads of options across the week, so you’ll definitely find something that works.

11. My enrichment clashes with one of my lessons, help!

This only affects a small number of students, but if it happens to you, simply pick another enrichment slot on a day where you’re free. Academic lessons always take priority, so make sure your enrichment fits around those.

12. I do loads of stuff outside college, does that count?

That’s awesome, and it’s great for your personal development, but it doesn’t count towards your official college enrichment hours. You’ll still need to complete your 50 hours through college-led enrichment activities at The Henley College.

13. Why does the college make us do enrichment anyway?

Because The Henley College isn’t just about getting grades, it’s about becoming the kind of person who does things. Enrichment helps you develop the qualities that employers, universities, and apprenticeship providers look for: initiative, teamwork, curiosity, and commitment. It’s your chance to explore new things, build confidence, and make your Henley experience memorable and meaningful.