What Are The Benefits Of Co-Curricular and Extra-Curricular Activities?

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.

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