Dance
Ballet is taught by a visiting specialist teacher and children achieve high grades in their examinations. During the summer there is a display for the enjoyment of parents and friends. Street Dance is also taught by a specialist teacher and is proving very popular with the Junior children.
Sport
At Vernon Lodge we can prepare the children for the future choices by offering as wide a taste of different sports as possible. We emphasise enjoyment, team spirit and healthy competition. Through a balanced programme, taught by qualified and specialised staff, we aim for fitness and sound skills.
Sports offered include soccer, netball, cricket, tennis, hockey, rounders, gymnastics and athletics. Pupils benefit from professional coaching in soccer, tennis and gymnastics and we are fortunate to have our own playing field and all-weather court. Gymnastics takes place in the hall, and we also make use of the facilities at The National Sports Centre at Lilleshall. Lower Juniors go swimming from January to July, and pupils achieve a variety of proficiency awards.
Music – ‘The Arts’
The Arts have always played an important part of the curriculum at Vernon Lodge. All the children sing, play percussion instruments and learn to read music. Many children join the choir which has an excellent reputation. The choir has participated in Songs of Praise. Junior pupils composed the music and wrote the lyrics for a competition called ‘Voices of Promise’, and as a result the song was offered performing rights. Our music department has visiting instrumental specialists for strings, brass and woodwind; many pupils learn the piano, keyboard and guitar, and a few also have singing lessons. Exams are taken annually.
In drama pupils have the opportunity to participate in our excellent annual concerts and plays. For example ‘Oliver’, ‘Joseph’, and ‘Alice in Wonderland’. Harry Potter has been a particular favourite. Pupils also assisted in the drawing and painting of the scenery. Both choir and drama groups have participated in the annual Dudley Festival – a local eisteddfod.
All of this illustrates the high standards of the Arts at Vernon Lodge. Pupils are entered annually in a national art and craft competition, and have achieved a first place for the Midlands area. Visitors always comment on the beautiful art displays around the school.
Speech and Drama
There are thriving speech and drama groups taught and encouraged by a visiting teacher. Children have the opportunity to entertain their peers and parents, and take annual LAMDA examinations.
Cultural Care
The children’s cultural life at school is stimulated with visits from touring theatre companies and outings to local theatres and shows. They visit museums and places of historical, scientific and environmental interest as a part of their curriculum studies. The delightful school country garden also provides plenty of bird and plant life for the children to study.
Clubs
School Clubs and activities tend to vary according to the season and enthusiasm of the children. They generally include computers, choir, chess, hockey, soccer, tennis, needlework, art/craft and current affairs. We have been gold and silver medal winners in the inter-schools ‘Top of the Form’ general knowledge competition.
Early Morning Club
Vernon Lodge operates a club for all pupils so that parents can drop them off from 8am.
Prep/After School Club
Vernon Lodge operates a Prep and After School Club for all pupils. Those who attend Prep can catch up on school work or do their homework, or they can go into After School Club until their parents are able to pick them up. These clubs operate from 3:30 till 5:30pm.