Co-curricular or extra-curricular activities are beneficial.
What are co-curricular and extra-curricular activities?
Co-curricular activities are:
- Organised by your school that take place outside the classroom
- Support the classroom curriculum in some way
- Provide coaching, training or instruction, but not in the regular classroom
- Co-curricular activities are usually not graded. They may be included in your school reports
Schools usually offer a broad range of co-curricular activities you can choose from. Examples could include activities such as:
- School sports teams
- School choirs or bands
- School drama production
- Student committees
- Debating and public speaking
- Chess clubs
- Peer tutoring
- Youth ministry activities
- Defence Force Cadets
- Duke of Edinburgh Award
Your school’s website may list the co-curricular activities offered. If not, contact a teacher to find out what co-curricular activities your school offers.
Extra-curricular activities are:
- Activities in your community that you may do on an optional basis outside of school.
- Not organised by your school
Examples of extra-curricular activities could include:
- Part-time work out of school hours
- Playing sport for a club
- Learning dance at a private dance school
- Private music lessons that are not organised by your school
- Youth group
- Pony club
- Modelling
- Church activities
- Scouts
- Surf life-saving
- Defence Force cadets that are not organised by your school
- Volunteer firefighting
Advantages and Disadvantages
Advantages
Co-curricular and extra-curricular activities:
- Develop your skills
- Help you explore what activities outside the classroom you enjoy or do not enjoy
- Help you to explore the non-academic skills you are good at
- Develop important skills for your future. Examples are, how to work in a team, how to communicate with people, how to organise your time
These benefits can help you when you make learning and career decisions.
You can include co-curricular and extra-curricular activities on your résumé. This may give you the edge in getting a part-time job, apprenticeship or traineeship.
Disadvantages
- Keeping up with school work and co-curricular or extra-curricular commitments may be stressful.
- Preparing for tests and exams can be hard if too much time is spent on co-curricular or extra-curricular activities.
Aim for balance between school work and co-curricular and extra-curricular activities.
Activity
Read Volunteering benefits your community and your career.