At St Columb Major we are dedicated to creating first-hand learning experiences in and outside the classroom that engage pupils and create emotional foundations and memories for the future. Nothing is left to chance. We pride ourselves on seeking out as many high-quality learning opportunities as possible, ensuring all of our pupils leave our school as well-rounded individuals who have had every opportunity for personal development and make positive contributions to society. By the time our children leave St Columb Major, our pupils will have:

• Learning how to speak confidently in public
• Performed musically
• Represented the school in sport
• Learning how to ride a bike safely on the road
• Developed their teamwork, resilience and lifelong learning skills
• Taking up a leadership role
• Taking part in community work through social action with our School Council

Extracurricular clubs

We offer a wide range of extracurricular clubs for our children to enjoy, We run a range of after-school clubs from 3.15pm to 4.15pm and lunchtime clubs.  In addition, all children are asked each year what clubs they would like us to run.

Our clubs are led by our teaching team along with outside specialists. Plymouth Argyle

Our weekly clubs include:

• Football club
• Coding and Programming
• Basketball
• Cricket club
• Nature / Gardening club
• Local Travel Club
• French club
• Choir
• Rugby club
• Cooking club
• Arts and Crafts
• Newspaper
• Invasion games club
• Disney Club
• Lego Club
• Yoga
• Multi Sports
• Gymnastics
• Fitness Club

Cycling

Bikeability is the national cycle training programme supported and funded by the Department for Transport. The course builds the skills and confidence of children who can already ride.

The Balance course is aimed at Foundation and/or KS1children who cannot ride a bike. This module uses games and balance bikes to equip children and prepare them with the basic balance and co-ordination skills they will need to progress to Level 1.

40 children in Year 5 began their Bikeability journey taking part in the Level 1 Course on the school playground.  The course focusses on safe cycling skills such as starting, pedalling,   signalling, turning and stopping in a traffic free area.
The children also learnt how to check their helmet and bike to make sure that it is safe and working properly.
Each child who took part received a Bikeability Level 1 certificate , badge and booklet.
The children did really well and will now go onto Bikeability Level 2 on local roads towards the end of September.

Forest School

Forest School is an internationally recognised process in which children are educated in the outdoor environment, preferably a woodland setting, on a regular basis. It is a planned and well-organised programme of child-centred learning. Through a balance of responsible risk taking and building trust, Forest School explicitly supports children's social, emotional and physical development.

Throughout their time at St Columb Major every child will participate and reap the benefits of Forest School. E.Y.F.S. have weekly Forest School sessions. We have our own field area with loose parts, dens and fire pits.

Educational visits 

Educational visits include visits to other places off-site, including our local community and further afield. We also invite visitors in. Various visits/visitors include:

• Castle N Dinas
• Boscastle
• Mawgan Porth Beach Visits
• Geevor Tin Mine
• M&M Theatre Productions visit
• RAF St Mawgan
• Stay Safe Mentors
• Nancarrow Farm
• Swimming at Fitness 4 U
• Song Fest Hall for Cornwall
• Newquay Aquarium
• Plymouth Argyle FC
• Cornish Pirates RFC
• Planetarium visit

Residentials

Year 1 Activity Days 

In the first half of the summer term the Year 1 children have 2 activities days. Day 1 is spent on the school site at our Forest School, here they learn how to  cook around the firepit, engage in a variety of art activities, games and exploring. After the excitement of the day the children settle down for a movie and dinner before being collected at 6.30pm. On day 2, the children head in to Newquay for a range of activities including pizza making at Pizza Express, a trip to the Lighthouse cinema and a trip to the beach.  

Year 2 Activity Days and Overnight Stay 

In the first half of the summer term, Year 2 pupils enjoy 2 activities days and an overnight stay at school. On day 1, the children visit Screech Owl Sanctuary. They have meet and greets with a variety of different animals, watch a flying display and have the opportunity to explore the site with their friends. On return to school they enjoy a mini disco in the school hall and for those who choose to stay overnight a movie on the big screen! On day 2 the children head over to Badger Forest School at Cardinham Woods where they have the opportunity to learn skills such as den building, fire lighting and forest school crafts. Led and facilitated by the amazing Badger Forest school, the children are able to explore the natural environment  and sharpen their team works skills.  

The Year 3/4 residentials alternates between two  

They have the opportunity to go on a three-day residential to Bristol. They stop over at the National Trust property of Tyntesfield on the journey to explore this magnificent house and garden. Whilst there, they take part in a workshop on plants and trees which reinforces their learning in Science. In Bristol, they stay in the YHA which is in a central location and allows them to access the sights of this vibrant city on foot. The main attraction in Bristol is the SS Great Britain which was designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel whose many achievements are studied in the subsequent term. Other sites that are visited may include the M-Shed Museum, the Millenium Square, a boat trip on the canal and Temple Meads Station. 

The following year they have the opportunity to go on a three-day residential to Bath. They stay in the YMCA hostel and spend their time exploring this classic city, building on the learning they do in Year 3 and Year 4 when in school. A visit to the Roman Baths is mandatory and brings their learning on Romans to life. As part of their Art topic on Architecture, pupils not only have the chance to immerse themselves in the style of beautiful Georgian buildings but also take part in a workshop and guided tour inside Bath Abbey.  The journey to Bath is broken up with a visit to Cheddar Gorge where the pupils not only experience the wonder and majesty of these caves but also consolidate their learning on water and prehistory. 

Year 5 Activity Days: 

In the second half of the summer term, Year 5 pupils take part in two activity days which are based at school. One is spent using the forest school area and is spent developing team building and problem-solving skills. The other day is spent taking part in more adventurous activities such as surfing, climbing or high ropes.  

The Y5 pupils spend one night sleeping over at school. 

Year 6 Residential: 

In the second half of the summer term, Year 6 pupils have the opportunity to go on a residential trip to London for four days. They stay on the Lord Amory, the Docklands Scout Project boat, based on Canary Wharf which is a unique and exciting opportunity. The pupils get the chance to experience what it is like in our capital city, seeing the main sights and visiting a selection of museums and attractions (eg. The Houses of Parliament, The Science Museum, The Natural History Museum, Hampton Court, The Tower of London or The Imperial War Museum). The highlight is always a visit to the theatre to see a show such as The Lion King.