Co-Curricular

Sport plays a vital role in educating our boys, all of whom receive two active lessons (PE and House Games) as part of their curriculum in Years 7 to 11. Sixth Form boys can choose sport for their Friday afternoon activity.  We also run an extensive co-curricular sports programme which follows a philosophy of both sport for all and a strong pursuit of excellence at all levels.

For any sport queries, email Director of Sport, Sam Habin. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

We have a range of sport facilities within easy reach of the College campus, including the indoor Langford Sports Centre and swimming pool; College Field and the Pavilion for cricket, squash and shooting; Claremont Field astro-turf pitches for hockey and tennis; and Heathfield for football and athletics.

We encourage all boys to develop an interest in sport, not just for competition but as part of a healthy lifestyle and a rich social life. Our main school sports are: football and hockey in the autumn, hockey and rugby in the spring and cricket and tennis in summer.

For those who excel in sport, there are opportunities in all year groups to play for the College, especially in rugby, football, hockey and cricket. Our teams regularly play against other schools and go on tours to Guernsey, the UK and further afield. Many of our top sportsmen play for island squads and represent Jersey.

Our wide range of sports help boys develop their sense of team spirit and the drive to pursue their personal bests in both individual and team sports. The Blomfield Trophy is an annual competition awarded to the highest scoring House in the sports that are taught as part of the PE curriculum and CCF: athletics, badminton, cricket, cross-country, football, hockey, rugby, shooting, squash, swimming and tennis.

The Combined Cadet Force is a uniformed youth organisation for boys from Year 9 that continues to be one of most popular enrichment activities. It is also open to students from our sister school, Jersey College for Girls. Pupils have the option to join the Army, Royal Navy or Royal Air Force sections from Year 9.

The CCF promotes the qualities of responsibility, self-reliance, resourcefulness, endurance and perseverance through exciting outward-bound activities that are sometimes challenging but always rewarding and fun. It is a great place to experience camaraderie and prepare for teamwork and leadership in a modern world.

The CCF is sponsored by the Ministry of Defence but is not pre-service training for the armed forces. The link simply means our students have access to unique experiences, including visits to RAF and Army bases in the UK or visits to Royal Navy vessels. Our cadets take part in regional and national competitions that test their practical skills and ingenuity. They also serve the community through ceremonial duties and charitable works and honour the traditions of the British Armed Forces' servicemen and women.

The CCF is a strong part of Victoria College's heritage, dating back to the formation of the Cadet Militia Corps 1883. Many Old Victorians have served in armed conflict and been decorated. Five past pupils have been awarded the Victoria Cross, with some lending their names to the College's five Houses.

The CCF Contingent parades on a Friday afternoons. The CCF Headquarters is situated behind the Pavilion on College Field and includes offices, classrooms, indoor shooting range, simulator suite and stores.

For CCF queries, contact the Contingent Commander, Sqn Ldr Blackmore or the School Staff Instructor, WO1 James McGarr.

We aim as a Music Department to provide high quality musical opportunities for our boys regardless of musical standard and in whatever musical tradition interests them. The rich musical tradition of Victoria College is supported by two full time teachers who provide the impetus for our pupils and who are the backbone for our music making. 

From day one, every boy chooses an orchestral instrument to learn and in Year 7, they join our unique Orchestral Challenge. Over the past four years, over four hundred boys have learnt to play through the scheme and even during COVID, we managed to keep this alive. With 40% of our boys in KS3 learning an orchestral instrument, this rises to over 50%, if we add the pianists, drummers, singers and guitarists.  We are proud to be making a real difference to their lives, and while we recognise that not everyone will go on to become professional musicians, it is important that every person has the opportunity to do so and to set in place a life-long love of music making, continuing a long Victoria College tradition.

We have a wealth of opportunities with three choirs, five ensembles various rock groups, informal bands, house ensembles and soloists, all of whom make music different here at Victoria College.

Our choirs: the Foundation Choir is only two years old, with boys from both the Prep and Senior School auditioning for places. The main College Choir benefits from the work that we do with the Foundation Choir and as a result, numbers are high, with over 50 boys singing in our combined choirs.  Our senior group, Voces Victoria, has a unique voice, performing in a wide range of styles, from Sea shanties to Pop. 

Our Concert Band now has a junior version, "Windband" and performs show and film music. We have been able to re-form our "Big Band" enabling our top musicians the chance to play a diverse range of music. Meanwhile, the String Sinfonia supports our violinists and cellists, and the most proficient players are invited to join the Joint Colleges Orchestra. The Rock School has two budding rock bands too!  All boys who play an instrument are assigned to an ensemble, and the choirs are recruited from whole year groups. These groups enhance our boys’ musical experiences and can provide a great sense of satisfaction and achievement.

Lessons in the Music Department encourage full participation and all boys in KS3 receive a weekly lesson as part of their curriculum until Year 9 at the end of which they can choose Music as one of their GCSE options. Uptake for the subject is growing considerably and we put that down to the positive attitudes that our students have to music and the high standards that we can achieve with the support that our teachers provide. A Level is a special subject, not just because traditionally few boys take it, but because it is so highly valued by universities. It is possibly the most highly regarded third A Level for a student applying to any course. The level and breadth of study which A Level Music students cover in their course helps to put them in the best position for university courses.

Many boys also benefit from instrumental lessons during school time, which we coordinate in various ways, either through our own Orchestral Project or the Jersey Academy of Music, Jersey Music Service and Rock School.

Performing opportunities abound with our Christmas Concert, our Carol Service, performances with local ensembles (recently The Harmony Men and La Ronde Band) our popular House Music Competition and by joining other island ensembles and choirs. The icing on our cake is touring abroad and in October 2023, we will take 36 musicians to Italy for a six-day trip, the first one in many years for the department.

For Music queries, email Director of Music, Francis Murton.

To further enrich our boys' learning, our staff run clubs and societies during lunch times and after school. As well as various aspects of music, sport and the CCF, the extra activities include Student Business Challenge, Chess Club, Art Club, Socrates Debating Club, creative writing, Jèrriais, shooting, climbing, Youth Assembly, Drama Club and Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.

Towards exam season in the summer term, staff also provide revision clubs and drop-in sessions for students who want to improve their grade or clarify a certain concept in a subject they are learning about.

The number and type of club varies according to the boys’ interests and the staff available.

At Victoria College, we pride ourselves on the number and range of trips we offer that give students the chance to learn about the world, other cultures, themselves and one another.

With over 100 trips running each year, there is always something to spark their interest. These include language trips, sport, drama and music tours, plus outdoor pursuits with CCF and for the Duke of Edinburgh's Award award.

In addition, the boys always eagerly anticipate Activities Week in the summer term, when they take a break from the academic curriculum and thoroughly enjoy trips that expand their horizons and move their learning to a new location.

All trips are approved and follow the guidelines set by the Government of Jersey. All student travel is insured through the Government of Jersey travel insurance policy.

For school trip queries, email James Townsend.

All boys take part in charity work and fundraise for their chosen House Charity. In addition, many boys in Year 9 take part in the Duke of Edinburgh's Award challenge, which includes a volunteering activity.

Some boys individually raise money and volunteer for charities that have special meaning to them, which the school supports wholeheartedly. Boys who go above and beyond in their service to the community are acknowledged with the Victoria College Citizenship Award, sponsored by one of our Foundation Partners.

We encourage our boys to have an awareness of the wider world and important social issues. Alongside this, we nurture their sense of empathy and help them recognise the importance of giving back to the community, both locally and worldwide.

For any charity work queries, email Charity Work Coordinator, Richard Picot.