With online school, the week has real room for sport, the olympiads, the arts and friendships. See what your child can join, and how to set it up.
Extracurricular activities, also called extramural activities, are the structured pursuits a child takes part in outside core academic lessons. Enrichment covers the wider experiences that go beyond the syllabus, from academic olympiads to the arts.
The two overlap, and both matter as much for an online-schooled child as for anyone else. This is where children find the thing they love and learn to get along with others their age.
Common examples include:
Everything runs through CambriCommunity, the ecosystem built into every CambriLearn enrolment. Your child connects online, and families reach an in-person network of sport, arts and adventure providers through the same community. The national olympiads sit alongside, open to every learner.
Interest-based clubs, live events, study groups and regional meetups for CambriLearn students across 100+ countries. All part of CambriCommunity, built into enrolment.
See CambriCommunityThrough CambriCommunity, families reach sport clubs, music and art studios, drama, adventure camps and Virgin Active fitness, all part of the same community.
See CambriCommunitySouth Africa's mathematics, computing and English olympiads are open to learners at any school. Your child can enter and compete nationally.
See the programmesMost of these come built into a CambriLearn enrolment through CambriCommunity. The national olympiads, listed at the foot of the table, are open to learners at any school.
| Activity | What it includes | Who it is for | Access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interest clubs and extramurals | Online clubs across the arts, technology, debate, sport and more, plus curriculum-specific study groups | All ages | In CambriCommunity |
| Live events and competitions | Weekly live events, workshops, guest sessions and inter-school competitions throughout the term | All ages | In CambriCommunity |
| Performing and creative arts | Drama, music, dance and visual or digital art, with showcases and shared projects | All ages | In CambriCommunity |
| Sport and fitness, with Virgin Active | Gym, pools and group classes, with up to 20% off for CambriLearn families across South Africa, Botswana and Namibia | The whole family | In CambriCommunity |
| Regional meetups and adventure | In-person meetups in major cities, plus outings, camps and outdoor learning experiences | All ages | In CambriCommunity |
| SA Mathematics Olympiad and Challenge | National mathematics competitions run by the South African Mathematics Foundation, leading through to international selection | Grades 4 to 12 | National, open to allsamf.ac.za |
| The Computer Olympiad | National computing contests across talent search, applications and programming, free to enter, a pathway to the International Olympiad in Informatics | Grades 4 to 12 | National, open to allolympiad.org.za |
| De Beers English Olympiad | National literature and writing competition run by the Grahamstown Foundation and the South African Council for English Education | Grades 9 to 12 | National, open to allsacee.org.za |
Everything marked In CambriCommunity is available to enrolled CambriLearn families as part of the community, though some in-person partner programmes may carry their own fees. The national olympiads are open to learners at any school; entry routes vary, so check each programme's website or ask a consultant.
No. With a good weekly structure they often do more. The day is no longer lost to travel and crowd-paced lessons, so there is real time for sport, the arts and a social life, online and in person.
CambriLearn students learn alongside peers in more than 100 countries, built over 20 years and more than 80,000 students. Friendships start in online clubs and study groups, then carry into regional meetups and shared activities.
Children and adolescents aged 5 to 17 should do at least an average of 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity a day. An online timetable makes that daily movement easier to plan and protect. Read the guideline
Online, a child has more choice of activity and more time to pursue it.
A rounded week is easier to plan than most parents expect. These four steps keep lessons and activities in proportion.
Lay out the academic timetable first so you can see the open hours each day.
Choose one physical, one creative and one social activity to commit to each week.
Combine CambriCommunity clubs with at least one in-person club or meetup.
Keep what your child loves and drop what they have outgrown.
Talk through sport, activities and the right curriculum pathway with an education consultant.
