Co-Curricular

The Music department, with its Specialist Music College status, is based in a state of the art suite boasting excellent facilities, including:

·         professionally-equipped recording studio with digital mixing desk and sound booth;

·         eight practice rooms;

·         a technology suite with 17 Mac computers featuring Garageband, Logic Pro and Sibelius software;

·         two large teaching spaces;

·         an instrument store room;

·         a 19^th century chapel for chamber concerts, containing a Yamaha grand piano and two-manual pipe organ.

·         a large auditorium with performance stage and fully integrated professional sound system.

The department is open for prep most evenings, allowing pupils to make use of the computer facilities and provide an opportunity for boarders to complete their weekly instrumental or vocal practice. Music is taught as a compulsory subject in Years 7-9, following the IBO Middle Years Programme. This includes the teaching of bilingual music lessons in French or German in Year 7.  Pupils may then opt to study GCSE Music in Years 10-11 (Edexcel board) followed by the Music IB Diploma course in the Sixth Form. Our diverse curriculum reflects the international dimension of the college, including practical units of work that focus on developing the pupils’ listening, performance and composition skills in music from all styles and cultures. Technology also features strongly throughout the curriculum, with pupils being taught how to use computer-based sequencing and notation software as part of their regular classwork.

In light of the coronavirus pandemic, the music department has integrated online learning fully into our curricular and extra-curricular provision. We have now facilitated a blended approach to musicmaking, enabling our students enjoy a variety of COVID-secure live and virtual performance opportunities.

Extra-Curricular Music

Hockerill has a vibrant and stimulating musical culture that permeates all aspects of college life. We currently have around 450 pupils learning a variety of musical instruments, taught by our talented team of 29 peripatetic music staff, many of whom are conservatoire-trained and perform professionally throughout the UK and abroad and can cover any instrument or vocal style a student would like to learn.

The college is an examination centre for the following music boards, all of which are taught here by our staff:

-       Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music

-       Trinity Rock & Pop

-       London College of Music

Our extra-curricular music programme is extensive, with clubs and ensembles for all abilities and styles. These include:

-       College Orchestra

-       College Big Band

-       Lower College Concert Band

-       Woodwind Ensemble

-       Flute Ensemble

-       String Ensemble

-       Brass Ensemble

-       Saxophone Ensemble

-       Clarinet Ensemble

-       Percussion Ensemble

-       Lower College Choir

-       Upper College Choir

-       Chapel Choir

-       Female Vocal Group

-       Male Vocal Group

-       Theory Club

There are many opportunities for our pupils to perform throughout the year, with large scale events such as the annual Christmas Show and Carol Service (Michaelmas Term), Spring Concert, Dance Show or Musical Theatre production (Lent Term) and Speech Day followed by Hampers and Champers (Summer Term). There are also many smaller concerts, workshops and recitals that take place throughout the year in the college chapel, showcasing the talents of our many soloists, smaller ensembles and visiting musicians. 

Music trips and tours also take place from year to year. Recent tours have included visits to the Czech Republic, Romania, Hungary, Germany and the Netherlands.

If you would like to contact the music department, please email musicadmin@hockerill.com or contact the college switchboard on 01279 658451.

Extra-Curricular activities form a major part of what Hockerill PE Department offers to the students. A wide variety of activities are run every evening after school. 

There are Rugby, Hockey, Football, Netball, Basketball,Cross Country, Swimming, Dance, Gymnastics, Cricket, Athletics and Rounders squads at all age groups who train regularly and development squads for those who wish to improve their skills.  We compete regularly against other schools in the area and enter County and Regional competitions at which we are very successful.  There are numerous lunchtime & after-school sports clubs that can be attended by students at Hockerill. Students are expected to fully commit by regular attendance, in correct kit and to remain focused for the duration of each club.

The P.E department also runs termly Equipe competitions in which all the students are encourgaed to take part and represent their Equipe.

Parents are asked to support the students’ commitment  to their chosen club by not arranging external appointments and encouraged to support the students by attending Home and Away fixtures where possible.

After school clubs are run from 4pm-5pm most evenings throughout the Michaelmas, Lent and Summer terms.

A list of all the clubs offered at Hockerill can be viewed in the Club Programme.

The Combined Cadet Force aims to promote all the qualities that make up the IB Learner Profile via the teaching of leadership, military skills and adventurous training.

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme helps young people to plan and undertake their own programmes of activity, to develop mentally, physically and emotionally.

Here at Hockerill Anglo European College we provide the opportunity for students to take part in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Bronze, Silver and Gold awards.

As well as being a fun opportunity for students to build on skills, work as a team and help within the community, it is also highly regarded by Higher Education establishments and employers, often providing the crucial standout advantage on CV’s and in interviews.

Students will complete four sections for the Bronze and Silver awards, and five for Gold.

Volunteering, Physical, Skills, Expedition make up the sections for Bronze and Silver and a residential is added to the Gold award.

 Bronze - Year 10

Silver - Year 11

Gold - Year12/13

Due to the current circumstances, we are still trying to find the best solution possible to run all the awards, however, with government guidlines forever changing this is proving incredibly difficult.

We will update parents as soon as we have a confirmed plan moving forward.

In a normal year our expedition timetable would look something like this:

The College aims to develop the whole person and one of the skills we value most highly is public speaking. To this end, the College continues to promote participation the Model United Nations, a student led club for students in the Sixth Form. The club is one of the main ways through which the College promotes International Mindedness.

Model United Nations, also known as Model UN or MUN, is an educational simulation and/or academic competition in which students can learn about diplomacy, international relations, and the United Nations.

Students participate in the following activities:

Weekly simulations of the General Assembly

Particpiation in Model United Nations Conferences

Organising a mini-MUN day for Year 7 students

Leading Assemblies

The following skills are acquired:

Leadership

Critical Thinking

Public Speaking

Active Listening

Lobbying

Negotiation