At Berkhamsted, we believe that pupils progress best and ultimately achieve better results if, between the ages of 11 and 16, they are taught within a single-sex environment.
For this reason we are committed to offering single-sex education for this age group. Links between the boys and girls' Senior Schools continue through joint activities, such as music and dramatic productions, the Combined Cadet Force and the Duke of Edinburgh Award, but in other respects boys and girls are taught separately.
The School has a strong tradition in music and drama, with flourishing choirs and orchestras and an on-going programme of drama productions both large and small. All pupils are taught music and drama during Years 7 and 8 and Music in Years 7, 8 and 9 in the School. Those with an aptitude for the subjects may then progress to GCSE and beyond. Tuition for speech and drama, singing and a wide variety of instruments is provided by our own staff as well as visiting specialist tutors. The choirs and orchestras perform regularly throughout the year at services, concerts and as part of large-scale drama productions - most of which are held jointly between the girls' and boys' Senior Schools.
We encourage boys and girls throughout the School to become involved in a wide range of extra-curricular activities. The Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme and the Combined Cadet Corps (CCF) are both popular and provide many opportunities to develop skills and self-reliance especially through the camps and expeditions that are regularly organised. Pupils are also encouraged to take part in community projects, particularly where they work alongside the socially disadvantaged.
The School has a number of societies that can cover interests as varied as: art, chess, computing, Christian Union, dance, debating, drama, music and swimming. During holidays many girls and boys go on cultural visits, foreign exchanges and, in later years, major expeditions to different parts of the world.
