Co-Curriculum
Where Passions Come Alive
The co-curricular programme at Belhaven isn't an add-on - it's integral to who we are. This is where children discover what they love, develop talents into genuine skills, and learn that life's richest experiences often happen outside the classroom.
CO-CURRICULAR BREADTH
From the sports field to the stage, the art room to the beach, we offer extraordinary breadth. Every child finds their thing (often several things!) and we give them the time, expertise, and encouragement to excel.
With over 60% boarding and an extended day for all, we have something increasingly rare: genuine time for children to develop interests deeply, not just sample them superficially.
SPORT
Facilities
Wonderful pitches, a sports hall, astro turf, and an open-air swimming pool provide the foundation for an ambitious sporting programme.
Programme
We balance team sports (Rugby, Hockey, Cricket, Netball, Cross Country, Football) with individual pursuits (swimming, athletics, tennis, golf). Whether your child dreams of playing representative sport or simply wants to stay active and healthy, they can develop their talents and interests.
Philosophy
Sport at Belhaven is about character as much as competition. We teach teamwork, resilience, courtesy, grace in victory, and dignity in defeat. Moving to mixed cricket, football and cross country throughout the school ensures that boys and girls develop a healthy respect for one another's strengths and adds to the many life lessons learned in team sport.
THE BELHAVEN AWARD
Our special Belhaven Award scheme encourages children to set goals, try new challenges, and develop skills across multiple areas. From learning a new sport to completing a community service project, The Belhaven Award celebrates well-rounded achievement.
Learning life skills are an important part of any really good, holistic education so we launched the Belhaven Award in 2023, our Centenary year.
Bronze, Silver and Gold levels reward the completion of tasks related to the school’s core values: Courtesy, Courage and Creativity – these provide lots of opportunities for fun, as well as helping to develop the skills needed to thrive and lead in the 21st century.
ACTIVITIES
An enormous range of activities runs throughout the week: cooking, climbing, crafts, coding, gardening, chess, pottery, and much more. Activities change each term based on children's interests and new opportunities.
The message is clear: there's always something new to try, always another passion to discover.
OUTDOOR EDUCATION
Winner of 'Best for Outdoor Pursuits' (The Week Awards 2025), our programme includes:
- Skiing & snowboarding
- Sailing & paddle-boarding
- Surfing & coasteering
- Rock climbing & abseiling
- Archery & orienteering
- Camping & bushcraft
- Mountain biking
- And simply exploring our 20-acre campus and Belhaven Bay
During Outdoor Education children learn a range of vital life skills - from identifying flora and fauna to cooking on camp stoves; from outdoor games to building emergency shelters, often accompanied by hot chocolate and the endlessly fascinating process of lighting and maintaining a fire.
They're adventures that build resilience, teach risk assessment, and create memories that last a lifetime.
TRIPS & EXPEDITIONS
From day trips to Edinburgh's museums to residential expeditions in the Highlands, we believe in taking learning beyond our gates. The much-loved end of year ‘Trips Week’ in June broadens horizons and builds independence.
Every trip is carefully designed to combine education with adventure, supervision with freedom, structure with spontaneity.
WEEKEND PROGRAMME
With over 60% boarding, weekends are action-packed. The programme balances structured activities (trips to Edinburgh, sports tournaments, cooking competitions) with precious free time for children to simply relax - building dens, playing with friends, or reading in a favourite hideout.
It is no wonder that parents often describe it as "Belheaven"!
