Extracurricular Activities

Known at Headfort as Extras, these are opportunities throughout the school day to advance a passion or develop a skill in an area beyond the classroom. We are renowned as a school that provides every child every opportunity to know success, and in so doing continue to develop our Extras programme in a way that advances this unique offering for our community.

Sports

Horse Riding

Read the chapters of our story and with each page turned you will read of the history of the horses of Headfort. We are the only school in Ireland where children can bring their ponies to school with them, and where they reside with them onsite. One of the hallmarks of the Headfort Journey, our ponies are synonymous with freedom, with adventure, and to be understood. Where some of our students may struggle in the scholarly pursuits or in other sports, in our stables they find a sanctuary, a place where they can chat with the ponies when they are feeling overwhelmed, where they can brush and care for them when they feel the need to be needed. Our students are taught basic riding and stable management, and they learn both on our campus through our fields, along the woods and in our bespoke cross-country course and outdoor arena.

Hockey

The girls of Headfort are fierce on the hockey field. They learn and develop teamwork skills and are active every day. Our dedicated coaches ensure that every player, regardless of ability, feels included and supported as they build confidence on the field. Along the way, students develop key skills such as dribbling, passing, shooting, defending, and maintaining proper positioning during play. Through regular practice and friendly matches across Ireland, the girls not only improve their fitness and coordination but also learn the importance of communication, resilience, and fair play — values that extend well beyond the hockey pitch and into the world they inhabit.

Rugby

At the heart of Headfort, back in the days when we were an all-boys school, rugby was synonymous with our success. It stands today, the true test of time, as being the traditional heartland for every Headfort student – be they experienced or having never handled the ball before. Our boys presently play during the Christmas and Easter Terms with tournaments across Ireland and friendly matches played each season. We aspire to have our first ever girls’ rugby team in the coming year.

Cricket

For as long as the grounds of Headfort have had grass, cricket has been played upon it. Our history is intrinsically linked to the sport, to many contests both within Ireland and across the sea in the United Kingdom. We are proud to have produced some exceptional sports people in this field and led the way with women proudly achieving national representation in the sport. A summer sport, cricket is enjoyed in the warmer months at Headfort.

Football, Basketball & Badminton

Throughout the academic year, Headfort School runs an internal league where pupils compete in friendly yet spirited matches representing their teams. The objectives of these leagues are to practice some values such as teamwork or respect and to develop physical ability and social skills while they are doing sports in a fun and supportive environment.

Athletics

Athletics holds a special place in the sporting life of Headfort. Every year, pupils take part in our amazing Sports Day, where the whole school competes in a friendly rivalry between the two Houses: Bective and Kenlis. Sports Day includes a number of events involving running and jumping - often referred to as track & field, the sport includes single events, such as the 100m or long jump -it is a perfect day to see the Headfort spirit of participation, perseverance and house pride.

Creative Art

Creative Art at our school has a long and proud history of nurturing creativity and self-expression among our students. We prioritise Creative Art because it encourages imagination, problem-solving, and confidence—skills that support learning across all areas of the curriculum. Through painting, drawing, sculpture and mixed media, students learn to communicate ideas and emotions in meaningful ways. Our young artists also have the opportunity to participate in art competitions (National Museum of Ireland Primary Colouring Competition, AIB Young Portrait Prize, Texaco Art Competition) and collaborative projects, celebrating their achievements and fostering a lifelong appreciation for visual creativity.

Junior Public Speaking

At Headfort School, we place great importance on developing confident and expressive young speakers from the very beginning of their educational journey. Our Junior Public Speaking event, designed for pupils in Junior Infants, Senior Infants, First Form, and Second Form, provides children with a joyful and supportive opportunity to share their voices. In First and Second Form, pupils are given a selection of six poems and invited to choose the one they most connect with—encouraging ownership, independence, and a sense of personal expression. On the day of the event, students recite their chosen poem before their classmates, teachers, parents, and families. This experience nurtures a wide range of essential skills, including confidence, clarity of speech, resilience, memory, and reading fluency. Above all, it fosters a love of language and self-expression, helping our youngest learners take their first exciting steps into the world of public speaking.

Drama

Headfort’s history is steeped in theatre, in dramatic performances that span the story of each student of our school. We begin our Drama programme with students from First and Second Form and relish building in them a confidence born of what it means to be truly creative.

Music

Music holds a central and much-celebrated place in the life of Headfort School. It enriches the school day, encourages creativity, and provides a shared space where pupils can express themselves freely.

Students are afforded the opportunity to explore their voices, develop technical skill, and discover the joy that music brings. Each lesson is an opportunity to nurture confidence, curiosity, and individuality, and it is inspiring to witness students grow from tentative beginners into assured young performers.

A key milestone in our musical life was the creation of the Senior School Choir in January 2022. Since its formation, the choir has become a highlight of the school’s cultural calendar. It has given students a strong sense of identity and belonging and has allowed them to experience the shared energy of ensemble singing. Rehearsals foster teamwork and camaraderie, while performances—at school events and beyond—provide moments of pride and celebration for both pupils and the wider school community.

Solo singing continues to play an equally important role within the programme. Standing alone and performing teaches resilience and self-belief; it challenges students to communicate emotion clearly and trust in their own abilities. Through competitions, concerts, and opportunities to hear other young performers, students broaden their musical horizons and gain valuable experience. Beyond the stage, singing enhances emotional well-being, improves focus and discipline, and develops confidence in public speaking—skills that students carry with them for life. In every way, music at Headfort enriches the individual and strengthens the spirit of the school.

Piano Lessons

Piano lessons provide an opportunity for our students to develop their skills and advance their expression on a weekly, opt-in basis. These lessons are privately arranged and are on a one-to-one basis.

Guitar lessons

Guitar lessons are provided from our littlest learners to our most senior students and begin with learning the ukelele to advancing skills with acoustic and electric guitars. These lessons are privately arranged and are on a one-to-one basis.

Singing Lessons

Students can choose to expand their skills through private music lessons. Building confidence and creativity these lessons allow for self-expression and the development o f skills beyond the classroom. These lessons are privately arranged and are on a one-to-one basis.

More Extras

ICT

Headfort has a unique approach to technology – we choose to hold fast to a construct that sees students learn new skills, while being introduced to technology through an ethical lens. We prefer to teach our children what technology can do to enhance life, as opposed to decay it. We look at ICT through the lens of solving big problems, to explore and to create, to build our human connection, not destroy it. We have one technology lab, and we are proud of it. We are not a school that uses laptops all day long - we prefer to climb trees.

Cinematography

Cinematography at Headfort allows pupils to explore the art and craft of filmmaking. This elective is about more than just learning how to make movies, it’s about learning to see beauty and possibility in the world around us. The students learn to write, film, and edit their own short films and documentaries. Each year, pupils present their projects to national competitions such as the FÍS Festival — with our most recent

Early Years Spanish

Through Spanish, the students develop not only their linguistic ability but also an appreciation of Hispanic culture and traditions -this specialisation subject reflects our commitment to preparing pupils for a globalised world where Spanish is one of the top five most spoken languages in the world. Our pupils enjoy interactive lessons, cultural projects and conversational practice, gaining confidence in real-world communication.