Academic Societies
Taking part in one of the School's many societies is a great opportunity to explore new interests, extend in-class learning and build new skills.
You'll find a supportive group of like-minded pupils.
Social Sciences
Bracken Society
Named after the controversial Old Sedberghian, Viscount Brendan Bracken, a businessman, politician and Minister of Information from 1941 to 1945.
The Bracken Society invites Sedbergh history pupils to present on aspects of history either related to their academic learning in class or simply of interest. Within a supportive group, pupils in the Bracken Society are able to practise and develop their public speaking and debating skills while deepening their knowledge and understanding of how to think like a good historian.
Debating Society
The Sixth Form Debating society is busy and active throughout the year with a series of internal inter-house black tie dinner debates. In addition, regional and national debating competitions are entered with much success. The skills and knowledge developed through these formal competitions as well as the informal discussions surrounding the society provide a good basis for debating at higher levels post-Sedbergh.
Classical Society
Keynes Hayek Society (Economics)
The Keynes Hayek is a student-lead Economics Society, in which pupils present on current economic matters. Topics have included the role and purpose of the international monetary fund, is immigration good or bad for the economy, the economics of gambling.
Phoenix Society
The Phoenix Society is the Academic Enrichment Society for pupils in Years 9, 10 and 11. The aim of the Society is to expose pupils to topics outside their regular curriculum and to push them to think critically, debate ideas, solve problems and confront the challenge of cognitive dissonance. Topics have included; The new and developing worlds of Bitcoin and The Dark Web: The subtle boundaries between truth and lies in non-fiction writing and a session entitled The Birth of the Modern: Renaissance Cosmology and the Transformation of the Medieval Mind, linking art, literature, religion and science.
School of Athens
The purpose of the society is an opportunity for pupils to share their thoughts and ideas, to delight, excite and inform on a wide range of subjects. Its aims are to stretch pupils in their academic subject and allow others to share in their knowledge.
Physical Sciences
The Burke and Hare Society (Senior Biology)
The Burke and Hare Club is an Academic Society that provides pupils with the opportunity to give presentations and lead demonstrations of practical science that is of a particular interest to them. As well as welcoming guest lectures from visiting academics. Another function is to support pupils aspiring for degrees in Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary Science.
The Invisible College (Science Society)
The Invisible College is a group of intellectually curious pupils dedicated to furthering scientific knowledge. The group meets regularly within the physics department, both to present and discuss scientific topics close to the hearts of the sixth form science pupils.
Music and Performance
Choral Society
Collegium Musicum (classical music)
A pupil-lead music-discussion group that meets usually once every half term in the welcoming environment of Powell House. Any topic, however related to music, is available for pupils to present to the group, often accompanied by their own performances or by listening to new works.
Sports & General Interest
TGI (Christian Society)
Enjoyable and thought provoking, with much lemon drizzle cake consumed and a huge variety of areas discussed, from Stalin to Science. Sometimes this is explicitly Christian in nature; at other times, the aim is to discuss an issue from a Christian perspective.
Design Society
Arena Society
The Society aims to help sport participants have a greater understanding of their body, various aspects of training and ultimately to help improve their performance in sport - with a focus on running. Valuable topics of discussion have inlcuded ‘How to breathe’ and ‘The Importance of Sports Nutrition’.