Making the most of College life involves seizing upon the many enrichment opportunities offered to you as a Reigate College student. One of the biggest attractions for many students is the College’s programme of around 50 extra-curricular Clubs and Activities. These run during lunchtimes and after College, during the Autumn and Spring Terms and include activities as diverse as Debating and Yoga, Choir and Self Defence.
Students have the opportunity to take part in a huge variety of trips and visits across different A Level and BTEC courses. Recent UK highlights include the World Travel Market in London’s ExCel, Wakehurst Place, the Houses of Parliament, the National Archives at Kew, Warner Bros Studios, Colchester Zoo and various theatre trips to the West End.
International destinations have recently included:
- Classics: Rome
- Geography: The Azores
- Performing Arts: Disneyland Paris
- Travel & Tourism and Business: Budapest
- History: Berlin and Paris
- Visual Arts, Film and Media: New York
- Spanish, French and Germany: Language exchanges
The College is able to provide some financial support to a limited number of students who would otherwise be unable to afford to take part in the College’s trips and visits.
The College offers all students the opportunity to enrol on the Duke of Edinburgh’s Gold Award Programme, regardless of whether they have previously done their DofE Bronze or Silver Awards.
It typically takes 18 months to complete and includes the following sections: Volunteering, Skills, Physical Recreation, Expedition and Residential.
The DofE Gold Award gives students the chance to do something completely new and improve on things they are already doing. It takes them out of their comfort zone and into a place where they will push themselves and have exciting new experiences.
It is an excellent additional qualification for students to gain and adds weight to both job and university applications. Around 60 Reigate College students enrol onto the Gold Award Programme each year.
Our students tell you what’s involved in taking your Duke of Edinburgh’s Gold Award at Reigate College
Reigate College aims to give all students an opportunity to enjoy sport and physical activity, whether as members of a College team (see below) or just for pleasure (see Activities Programme).
College teams compete in the Surrey Sixth Form Colleges League in the following sports:
- Men’s Football (3 teams)
- Women’s Football
- Men’s Rugby
- Women’s Rugby
- Netball (2 teams)
- Basketball
Subject to demand, the College also runs teams in Tennis, Table Tennis, Badminton and Swimming although the College is not able to offer team practice sessions in all these sports.
Trials are held during enrolment week and fixtures run throughout the academic year. All teams compete on Wednesday afternoons and students should bear this in mind when finalising their timetables.
Opportunities also exist through the Association of Colleges (AoC) for competing locally and nationally in Cross-country, Athletics, Table Tennis and Golf. The AoC organises tournaments, leagues and fixtures for Sixth Form and Tertiary Colleges, and gives students the opportunity to represent both South East Colleges and British Colleges in competitions.
The College has excellent sporting facilities, and students have free access to the College’s 24 station gym during term-time.
The College’s 24-station gym can be used by students at selected times during the College week including lunchtimes and after College. Students interested in using this facility should speak to Sports Centre staff (based near the Sports Centre reception area) to get the latest information about gym inductions and access timetable.
The College attracts sports stars and sports enthusiasts from across a huge range of sporting backgrounds, many of whom go on to compete in AoC Sport competitions both locally and nationally.
Music plays a pivotal role in College life, due to having three Level 3 Music courses, an abundance of musically gifted students and excellent facilities for Music. The ‘Music Year’ typically includes:
- Lunchtime recitals
- Winter Concert
- Spring Concert
- Battle of the Bands at the Harlequin Theatre in Redhill
- Music Awards
- Equality and Community Day
- New Music Fest at Reigate Rugby Club in Reigate.
Throughout their time at College, students have the chance to appear in a glittering array of productions, enhanced by the opening, in September 2017, of a new Dramatic Arts Centre (DAC) with high-tech, flexible and fully equipped performance and rehearsal spaces. The DAC complements the Rispoli Theatre, with an excellent welcome foyer and auditorium style seating.
A typical annual Performing Arts calendar includes:
- Shakespeare Schools Festival
- Hot Feet Dance Show
- Two cross-College shows
- Performing Arts Showcases
- Equality and Community Day
Visit the Performing Arts Photo Galleries for a glimpse at some of these events.
A variety of Performing Arts activities are made available to all students via the Activities Programme.
