Daily Life at St. Michael's

  • Music & Expressive Arts

    Music & Expressive Arts

    We are well-resourced with dedicated teaching and rehearsal space for Art, Music and Drama.

    Music is an integral and celebrated part of school life at St. Michael’s and we are immensely proud of and passionate about the work done each year by teachers and pupils. We have a wealth of talent and enthusiasm in the school and the staff work with pupils to inspire creativity, confidence and excellence in music, art, speech and drama.

    The faculty offers many extra-curricular activities and opportunities for performance across all year groups. Many pupils take instrument, speech or singing lessons with a dedicated visiting teacher and are encouraged to join one of our music groups at lunchtime or after school. Activities include Wind band, Jazz Band, Chamber Choir and Orchestra.
    Each year we hold a number of concerts which enable pupils to work together in performance. In the Autumn Term we hold a Carol Service and Christmas Concert, both helping form relationships with parents and the wider community.

    We hold an annual Senior School Musical every Spring in the local theatre and the Summer boasts the Senior School Proms Concert. Drama and Art presentation evenings for GCSE and A level Students also showcase our talent.
    We recently performed the musical ‘Oliver’ – it was exceedingly professional and the teachers’ expertise ensured the show was a success. I played the female lead and it was an invaluable experience for me, as I have chosen to study Musical Theatre at University.
    Lower 6 Pupil
  • Extra-Curricular Activities

    Extra-Curricular Activities

    Extra-Curricular Activities:
    In addition to the various opportunities available in Speech, Music and Drama, we offer a range of activities to pupils in and outside school. It is important for pupils to be in touch with as many experiences as possible, develop new skills and form new relationships.
    Activities on offer include:
    Chess, Chinese Language Club, Climbing, Debating, Duke of Edinburgh, Golf, Lunchtime Sports, Orienteering, School Magazine and Skiing.
    Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds: Sport at St. Michael’s:
    We believe in the importance of keeping our children healthy and active and providing time away from the classroom during the school week. All pupils take 2 lessons of games per week as part of the timetable. In addition, there are many lunchtime sports on offer and the school takes part in many inter-schools competitions. There is a strong House System in place where there are Inter-House cups for rugby, swimming, athletics and winter sports. The school has Under 13, Under 15 and Senior teams with regular fixtures against other schools and we offer a GCSE PE programme.

    The school has its own games field as well as tennis, netball and basketball courts. We also take pupils out for activities such as swimming, climbing and golf in Forms 1-3. Despite our relatively small size, we cater for every level of enthusiasm and ability and it is hoped that all our pupils will enjoy taking part in sports and activities. Many of our pupils have gained County and National honours in a range of sports including athletics, rugby, show jumping and tennis and the school has been lucky enough to receive national recognition for its contributions to sporting success. We offer support and encouragement to our talented sportsmen and women, and help them manage their time and commitments effectively.
    My aim is to run in the 2016 Olympics and take a place at an Ivy League University in America to enhance my sporting and academic abilities. I was voted sportswoman of W-Wales 2009/10. St. Michael’s has supported my training programme for athletics and enabled me to gain the examination results to pursue my dream.
    Jade Williams, Lower 6 Pupil
    Jade Williams
  • Sport

    Sport

    At St Michael's we are extremely proud not only of our students’ academic, social and musical achievements, but also of their sporting successes. For a small school, our pupils have achieved great success in a range of sporting activities both in and out of school. Sport is taught from the ages of 3 to 16 with school teams from the age of 7.

    There are four members of the PE Department, offering a wide range of expertise and experience alongside specialist members of the teaching staff. In 2006 the Daily Telegraph stated "What so impressed me about St. Michael's was the school's ability to get utter commitment from its pupils with almost every pupil on a very small school roll, eager to represent it."

    The school has achieved notable success namely the ISA Nation Netball champions, in 2011, 2009 and 2006, and rugby sevens ISA Runner's Up in 2011. We have had many internationals, in various sports, including water polo, swimming, tennis, badminton, netball and rugby. We have also had many county champions, both individually, and with teams and representatives at Llanelli schools at tennis, netball, cross country and athletics from the ages of 10 upwards.

    Gallery

    A Day in the Life at St. Michael's Senior School
    indoor-athlete

    indoor-athlete

    rugby-2

    rugby-2

    under-11-football

    under-11-football

    under-16-netball-1

    under-16-netball-1

    under16-netball

    under16-netball

    under10-tennis

    under10-tennis

    under11-netball

    under11-netball

    under11-tennis

    under11-tennis

    under13-badminton

    under13-badminton

    county-netball-1

    county-netball-1

    rugby-1

    rugby-1

    scarlets-1

    scarlets-1

    tennis-1

    tennis-1

    under12-netball

    under12-netball

  • The Wider Community

    The Wider Community: St. Michael’s and Beyond

    School Trips


    Each term a number of trips and excursions are offered as part of the curriculum. These trips are important in consolidating and building on what is learned in the classroom, and opening minds to new ideas. There are regular visits to places like Bristol, London and Stratford for the theatre and museums with English and History, visits to the Senedd in Cardiff with Politics and Citizenship, Geography Field trips as well as Study days at universities in languages and mathematics. Every year, skiing trips are arranged in the Autumn or Spring terms.
    Fundraising:
    Each year our pupils and their charity committee raise an impressive amount of money for local and national charities and community projects. We have a strong standing in the local community and our pupils are encouraged to develop an altruistic attitude to life – sharing and giving and being sensitive to the needs of others.
    Parent-Teacher Association:
    We have an active P.T.A. and the team have worked hard over the years to manage social events and raise money for special projects. Their work for the school is invaluable and every year the Association organises an annual School Ball, Christmas and Summer Fayres.
    Alumni:
    The St. Michael’s Old Students’ Association continues to thrive and many of our ex pupils continue to make regular appearances at our Christmas Ball, annual concerts and other functions. It is a great reflection of the positive and long lasting relationships we form with our pupils and we are proud to think that the St. Michael’s family is such an extended one.
    Seeing the Blitz experience at the Imperial War Museum was amazing – it really brought the horror of the sounds, and even smells of the war home to us. Seeing ‘War Horse’ afterwards in the West End made it an experience, and some History, I will never forget.
    Form 4 Pupil
    St. Michael’s has provided me with a platform to develop both academically and socially. Students are highly motivated and provide each other with good peer support. The teachers are very supportive and committed to teaching.
    Upper 6 Pupil
  • I.C.T

    I.C.T

    We house two up-to-date computer suites each boasting over twenty machines and the assistance of an I.C.T. technician and specialist I.C.T. teachers. Technology is fully integrated into the curriculum and we encourage students to enhance their work through the use of it.
  • School Meals

    School Meals

    A good variety of wholesome, home-cooked food is served each day in our canteen and we are committed to offering healthy options. Salads, vegetarian meals and sandwiches are available every day, and for those students who wish to bring their own lunch, a sandwich room is provided.