Wider Opportunities

At Penwortham Girls’ High School, we know that there is far more to school than simply passing exams.  We provide an extensive programme of wider opportunities to ensure all our students regularly have opportunities to enjoy new experiences, develop character, build personal skills and ignite a passion for, and enjoyment of, learning.

At PGHS our wider opportunities are carefully planned and calendared to complement our academic curriculum.  All subject areas are committed to a ‘minimum offer’.  This typically includes clubs, competitions, careers-focused activities, guest speakers and trips. These activities are strategically designed to develop and broaden our students’ understanding beyond their classroom-based learning.  Most importantly, every student in every subject in every year group can take part.

Many of our subject-based events take place during one of our termly festivals: a fortnight of activities with a strong focus on our students’ personal development.  During the Autumn term we have Festival of Literature and Languages; followed by our STEM Festival during the Spring term; finishing with our Festival of Performance and the Arts in July. These festivals include a wide range of activities; some targeted at specific year groups (e.g. career carousels for KS4), with others involving the whole school such as our annual school production The Little Mermaid 2024.

In addition to all of the above, we also have an ambitious calendar of activities, with a more pastoral focus, which are intended to foster character, develop our core values, and create opportunities for volunteering and charity work. At the heart of our active citizens programme are our ‘Buddy Groups’. Each student teams up with individuals from every year group to create their buddy group. Students work with their buddies once every two weeks during form time on a range of social and environmental projects, which are both school and community based.

Above and beyond our minimum offer, we also offer an expansive and varied optional programme of extra-curricular events.  These include sports teams, inter-school competitions, day trips and of course, residentials. In 2022-23, students were offered a number of opportunities to travel internationally, including a visit to Germany led by the MFL and CAT faculties, explore Iceland with the Geography team, and ski in Italy. For those wanting to stay closer to home, Science hosted residentials to Edinburgh and the Kielder Forest, whilst the English department provided London theatre trips.

Moving forward after 2024 we now have all our residential trip mapped out for the duration of their school journey. This allows us to cater for all interests as well as allowing parents to have payment plans in place. 

Sports, Clubs and Societies

Residential Visits

Minimum Offer

  • Artsmark Platinum Award - Awards by Arts Council England
  • Lancashire Socio-economic Equality Badge
  • SMART
  • UNICEF
  • School Mental Health Award
  • Ofsted - Outstanding Provider
  • International School Award
  • Artsmark Platinum Award - Awards by Arts Council England
  • Lancashire Socio-economic Equality Badge
  • SMART
  • UNICEF
  • School Mental Health Award
  • Ofsted - Outstanding Provider
  • International School Award