Why Mayfield School is a place of learning where girls are encouraged to get involved with many of the extra-curricular activities on offer…
Complementing the curriculum at Mayfield are a huge range of extra-curricular activities, providing an environment that encourages the girls to broaden their interests and talents as well as develop their own voices. The School provides a supportive environment in which girls learn and understand the importance of making mistakes in order to learn.
Lizzie, a Lower Sixth boarder from Wadhurst, recently co-organised a coding workshop as part of the Mayfield School’s Festival of Ideas, a series of ten interactive workshops delivered by Scholars to the girls in Years 7 and 8. “The workshop I co-delivered was called ‘No Time to Drive’ and we taught the younger girls how to code the Pi-Top 4 Robot to drive around a track through a series of challenges. It was a great experience to get to know the younger girls, teaching them the fundamentals of coding and it also allowed me to develop my own understanding of coding further.”
Lizzie also loves playing Cricket and is currently in the Sussex U17 County Cricket squad. “I started playing cricket at Mayfield in Year 7 thanks to Miss Starr (Mayfield’s Director of Sport and former England Cricketer) who encouraged me and nurtured my interest. For the last two years, I’ve played against the MCC, featuring several former international women cricketers, and last year had the privilege of captaining Mayfield in one of the T20 fixtures. I have always loved sport because it has helped provide balance to my academic studies and develop skills outside of the classroom such as perseverance, teamwork and my ability to handle pressure.”
Last year, Lizzie represented the School at the Model United Nations Conference – an educational simulation of the actual United Nations in which students can learn about diplomacy and international relations – in Torun, Poland. “It was amazing to meet and debate with students from all over the world and to have the opportunity to stay with a Polish host family for the week and experience a different culture. Taking part in the conference helped me grow in confidence, and I learnt some really useful skills, such as learning to negotiate and find common ground, as I worked as part of Nigeria’s delegation and had to work with delegations from other countries to get resolutions passed.”
Yaa, a Lower Sixth boarder at Mayfield, is thriving in the performing arts. She is currently studying for her LAMDA Gold Award and in 2022 was accepted into the National Youth Theatre (NYT), following an audition at Mayfield. “NYT has deepened my love for acting and taught me so much about the world of theatre and performance, specifically how to navigate it as a young person eager to get involved.” She was also recently part of a Sixth Form led drama production, ‘Before the Ink was Dry’, a darkly comic murder mystery written, directed and performed by the students working in collaboration with one another. “Drama has really helped to bring me out of my shell and has given me a sense of confidence that helps with all aspects of school life. I’m now able to challenge myself to do things outside of my comfort zone.”
Yaa has boarded at Mayfield since Year 7. “I’ve always loved boarding and it has allowed me to develop strong friendships. Boarding has helped me become independent from an early age and as a result, I feel I now have strong time management skills.”
Ella, a local student from Penshurst, is Mayfield’s Equestrian Captain. “At Mayfield, I’ve progressed from jumping 70cm fences to 1.20m. I couldn’t have done it without the help of Mayfield’s Equestrian coaches. I’ve been able to stable my horse, Jamie, at Mayfield’s stables throughout my school career and everyone has been so accommodating.” Last year Ella was part of Mayfield’s Equestrian team that won the national 1m Show Jumping Team title at Keysoe, and she also won the individual 1.10m Show Jumping Championships at the same event. Ella feels that riding has complemented her studies, “Riding has helped me maintain my wellbeing throughout my studies and I love being out in the fresh air. I have also really enjoyed getting to know a wide range of girls, from across all the year groups, riding alongside them at all the NSEA (National Schools Equestrian Association) competitions.”
Ella also developed her interest in nature through her Sixth Form Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) on re-wilding. “My EPQ – ‘Is re-wilding the solution for the restoration of biodiversity in the UK?’ – helped me realise that what I really wanted to study at University was Zoology or Ecology. As part of the EPQ I undertook a course at the Knepp Estate, where I met Charlie Burrell, one of the leading experts on re-wilding in the UK.”
