5 ways to increase student participation in extracurricular activities
The number of students who participate in school clubs and extracurricular activities varies by age, location and background – but studies suggest attendance has benefits for all.
Why students should participate in extracurricular activities
School clubs and extracurricular activities such as sports, music, drama and book clubs enable students to develop and focus on their interests outside of schoolwork.
Studies show that participation in school clubs improves students’ social skills, communication and teamwork. It also helps them connect with peers and build a sense of belonging that improves their wellbeing and happiness at school.
A UK study from the Education Policy Institute even found that school club attendance could be linked to a young person’s progression to higher education and employment later in life.
Barriers to participation
The evidence is there that school club attendance is good for young people – so why don’t students participate in extracurricular activities? There are many potential barriers to participation and every school and student is different, but common barriers include:
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Lack of teacher time: teachers and school staff may lack the time to prioritise club management and encourage participation
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No student voice: if students aren’t included in planning and decision making, the clubs on offer might not align with their interests
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Financial burden: the cost associated with some extracurricular activities can be a barrier – this could be the cost of the club itself, equipment needed (e.g. for sports) or transport costs
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Personal barriers: students may lack the confidence to socialise with new peers or to try new activities
Five ways to get students to participate in clubs
It's important that teachers and school staff work to overcome these barriers – all students deserve an equal chance to participate. Barriers such as cost can also reproduce inequalities in academic and career outcomes, so working through these to increase club participation is also important in promoting inclusion at your school.
1. Involve older students
Getting older students involved in running and supporting a club saves teacher time and benefits the students’ skills and wellbeing.
Older students are likely to have some influence in school, so their attendance can increase participation from younger students. Similarly, involving older students in school clubs creates a culture of extracurricular participation in your school, which in itself makes students more likely to participate.
2. Encourage student voice
Sports clubs may be the most common kind of club, but it’s important that students who aren’t interested in sport can access extracurricular activities too. Young people won’t participate in clubs that don’t interest them – so understanding what students want is essential in generating interest and encouraging participation.
One way to do this is by allowing students to share their ideas, such as with a suggestions box or online form. You could also enable students to start clubs themselves, with a teacher or other school staff member as a sponsor.
Having a forum for student voice in existing clubs can also support participation – for example, less confident students may be more likely to join in if they feel they have a role in decision making, such as choosing not to join public performances in a drama club.
3. Prioritise inclusion and accessibility
Creating a safe and inclusive space for all students can support participation from vulnerable young people and those from often excluded groups.
This means making it clear that respect and tolerance for others is an essential part of being a member of your club. In sports clubs, it is key to talk about and celebrate women’s games and tournaments, and in clubs that use literature or historical sources, make sure you include authors from a range of backgrounds.
Additionally, research from the UK’s Social Mobility Commission found “a direct link between household income and participation for almost all extra-curricular activities”, suggesting that cost is a significant barrier to participation in school clubs.
It’s key to find ways to make your club either free or less costly to access – for example, set up a scheme for donating sports equipment and books which can then be given to students who need them.
Similarly, allocating club places on a first-come, first-served basis can exclude students who might not be able to pay straight away. One way to mitigate this is to assign club places based on students’ preferences, such as getting parents to submit a numbered preference for your club compared to other clubs. Using electronic club management software can automate this process for you.
Where possible, clubs should also be accessible for students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). You could provide options to adapt sports for accessibility or in more academic clubs, differentiate the content or projects that club members work on.
4. Promote your clubs
To participate in a club or extracurricular activity, students need to know about it. Ways you can promote your club include:
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Teachers with a subject-related club (e.g. an English teacher with a book club) can set up a visual display for the club, or mention it to students at the end of lessons
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If there are lots of clubs at your school, leaders could dedicate a short slot at the end of weekly assemblies to spotlight a different club and remind students what’s on offer
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Promote your club in the school newsletter
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Create a web or intranet page dedicated to your school’s clubs, so students can discover the full range of clubs and find any new ones
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Use registration or form times to encourage students to discuss their interests and what clubs they could join – or discuss a club they could create themselves
5. Streamline club management
Using club management software such as Tes Clubs and Events helps you do more in less time by automating time-consuming processes. It streamlines club sign-ups, keeps all your records in one place, supports attendance recording and reporting and processes payments, including sending payment reminders.
For busy teachers and school staff, spending less time on club management and admin means you can spend more time encouraging participation and focusing on accessibility.
Better school club management with Tes
Interest and participation in extracurricular activities can mean better outcomes for your students – but teachers and school staff often don’t have the time to prioritise school clubs.
Tes Clubs and Events takes on the administrative burden of club management, saving you time and making it easier than ever for you to focus on increasing participation in clubs and extracurricular activities.