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 favoring 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 the very popular drama enhancement, a rock school, choir and jazz band run by the media department, Russian, Latin and Japanese language enhancements and the English department’s college newspaper. 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 offers a wide range of volunteering opportunities. These include the Sport Leaders Award and the Gaelic Football Leadership project, Pre teaching, Buddy Scheme and the VINE project.


At the end of the Lower Sixth, the College runs Enhancement Week where you can choose from a programme of in-college activities and day trips or take part in a residential trip or a work experience placement. Students choosing to participate in in-college activities and day trips are presented with a wide choice of activities and opportunities, including sport and physical activities, first aid qualifications, university and law courts trips and C.A.D. training, and get to create their own programme for the week

Work Experience is very popular especially with students looking to apply for medical related degrees or considering careers in a medical field and students take part in a full week’s placement. The residential trips include a Psychology trip to Barcelona, a Geography trip to Iceland, the Coast-to-Coast bike ride and an Outdoor Adventure trip, amongst others. Students 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.