The purpose of the college Enhancement programme is to broaden
your range of activities, experiences, skills and qualifications and
also gives you an opportunity to meet and socialise with other
students.

Your examination subjects are of great importance and it is vital
that you achieve the best grades you can. However, alongside a
good academic profile, employers and university admissions tutors
are favouring students who have developed other interests, skills
and experiences. With ever increasing competition to secure jobs
and university places, anything extra that makes you stand out
from the average ‘good’ student will give you a head start. The
enhancement programme at Notre Dame aims to offer you such
opportunities.

At Notre Dame, there are many activities available as part of our
weekly programme (a full list is provided in the Enhancement
Booklet available from College). These include community service,
numerous sporting and recreational activities, ranging from men’s
and women’s football to climbing, as well as certificated courses
such as First Aid and The Duke of Edinburgh Award. Certain
departments within college also run more subject specific activities.
These include Drama, the Ancient Greek Enhancement run by the
Classics Department, the English Department’s College newspaper
and Young Enterprise which is offered by the Business Studies
Department. In addition to this, you will be offered the opportunity
to learn to ski at Xscape in Castleford, following which a residential
trip to the Alps can be used to hone your skills! The college also
has well-established links with the Leeds United and Leeds Rhinos
Learning Centres. Here, many of our students have volunteered to
mentor KS2 and KS3 pupils in IT, numeracy and literacy as part of a
nationwide scheme that has proved to be very rewarding and
popular.



At the end of the Lower Sixth, the College runs Enhancement Week
where you will enrol for a residential trip or choose from a
programme of in-college activities and day trips. The residentials
include the Battlefields trip to France, the Coast-to-Coast bike ride
and the Dublin trip, amongst others. Students choosing to
participate in an in-college activity are again presented with a wide
choice including self-defence, bongo drumming and C.A.D. training.
You also have the option of Work Experience, which is popular
amongst students looking to apply for medical related degrees or
considering careers in a medical field. During this time, you also
have the opportunity to be part of the group of young people who
travel to Lourdes in collaboration with the Leeds Diocese. Here,
they assist the sick, disabled and elderly, helping to enrich their
pilgrimage.

The weekly programme and the end of year enhancement week at
Notre Dame allow you to make the most of your opportunities to
enhance both your education and your life.