I was struck recently by an article in The Times (September 2025) reporting that girls who play sport after school are significantly more likely to secure senior professional jobs in later life. The study attributed this to the resilience, confidence and adaptability that come from participating in team games. It is a fascinating finding, yet it also underlines something broader: the impact goes far beyond girls’ sport or indeed sport alone. The same principles apply across the whole co-curriculum. When young people commit to activities outside the classroom – whether on stage, in the studio, on parade or in the great outdoors – they are learning the habits that set them up for life.
Parents often ask what makes the greatest difference in a child’s education. Academic results matter, of course, but many of the qualities that enable young people to thrive as adults are not developed at a desk. They are forged in the experiences that stretch them, connect them with others and build habits of resilience and character.
Adolescence is a particularly formative time. Teenagers are wired to seek novelty, to test boundaries, to look to peers and to explore ideas with energy and creativity. The environment they grow up in – and the opportunities they seize – shapes them profoundly. The question for any school is how best to channel that natural appetite for discovery into growth that endures.
A strong co-curriculum does three things well:
When these elements combine, pupils learn to manage themselves, work with others and step into challenges with confidence. They also build habits – punctuality, preparation, pride in appearance, reliability – that may seem like small details but become the foundations of adult character.
At Oundle, we see this in many different forms. Rowers taking on Henley Regatta for the first time. Actors tackling The Crucible in the Stahl Theatre. Musicians performing at the Royal College of Music. Third Formers camping out as part of their first DofE experience. The Marching Band representing the School at the Lord Mayor’s Show. Each experience is unique but together they create a rhythm of life that pupils carry with them long after they leave.
Importantly, these experiences are not “extra.” They are central to what it means to be at Oundle. They give our pupils space – physical, emotional and intellectual – to think deeply, grow independently and discover who they are.
Alumni often reflect that it was not a single exam grade or trophy that defined their Oundle years but the skills and resilience they learned by juggling commitments, leading teams and throwing themselves into opportunities. One Old Oundelian captured it perfectly when she wrote in her first year at Cambridge: “Above all I recognise that the greatest life skill Oundle taught me was to manage my time effectively, juggle my commitments and be organised, something I will always be grateful for.” Her words remind us that academic excellence and co-curricular engagement are not in competition. They are complementary and mutually reinforcing. That ability to “get stuck in” becomes a habit and ultimately a mindset.
For parents, the reassurance is that strong academic progress and co-curricular engagement are not in tension. In fact, they reinforce each other. When pupils feel a sense of belonging, rise to new challenges and explore their creativity, they grow in confidence and purpose – qualities that feed directly back into the classroom. At Oundle, we want every child to thrive in both spheres, because it is the combination of knowledge, character and experience that equips them for the future.
One of the simplest ways to support your child is to encourage them to say yes – to try something new, to persist when the first attempt feels daunting and to celebrate effort as much as outcome. Not every opportunity will become a lifelong passion but each one will help them build the habits, friendships and confidence that make their time at school – and beyond – so rewarding.
