Clubs & Activities

The Purvis Society, to which all academic scholars at Cranleigh belong, is Cranleigh’s oldest and most active society. It meets on average four times a week during the Michaelmas and Lent terms, and over the course of a year hosts a dozen visiting speakers, sees two dozen staff give seminars on their personal academic interests, and runs around ten Sixth-Form dinners, in which students have the opportunity to discuss the ideas raised in seminars in a less formal setting.

Knoller is our Sixth Form History and Politics society. There are a series of events each term including film nights, debates, lectures, book club discussions and question time style activities. In recent years this has included entering the BBC Schools’ Question Time and the Youth Parliament Competition.

The Combined Cadet Force at Cranleigh has evolved into a thriving activity which is becoming integral to the ethos of the School. Dating back to the 30th May 1900, when the school was given permission to form the ‘Cadet Corps’ the School has had a strong military connection throughout its history. Usually several cadets go on to join the forces each year, but this is certainly not the aim of the CCF. The primary role is to promote leadership, teamwork and encourage self-discipline, whilst having a lot of fun in the outdoors.

The Tom Avery Society is for those with a streak of adventure! Each term, we host an illustrated lecture at Cranleigh, given by someone who has undertaken an unusual and challenging adventure. In addition, once a term, members of the Sixth Form have the opportunity of attending an illustrated presentation in London at either the Alpine Club or the Royal Geographical Society.

Named after the Old Cranleighan Hugh Blaker, our History of Art society provides a window into the development of Western art from the Renaissance through to the Modern. Pupils will come to appreciate how we got from Giotto to Picasso and the hope is that a new and exciting world will have been opened up to them, which they will be in a position to enjoy for many years to come.

Cranleigh Being consists of the Pupil Wellbeing Group (PWG) and the Diversity Alliance (DA) both of which are pupil-led groups with a pupil chair and deputy in charge. The Pupil Wellbeing Group focuses on pupil-driven initiatives and current issues and currently has sub-groups including the Body-Image committee, The Anti-Sexual Violence/Consent committee, and the Anti-Bullying committee. The Diversity Alliance exists as a safe space for pupils to discuss issues affecting individuals with protected characteristics and is currently made up of the Anti-Sexism Group, Anti-Racism Group, Pride Group (the LGBTQ+/Straight Alliance) and the Neurodiversity Group, with an Interfaith Group being planned.

Cranleigh Being also contains the Eco Group and the Charities Committee. Cranleigh Being looks to promote pupil leadership and is responsible for organising and running the Sixth-Form Peer Mentor scheme which consists of six evening training sessions on Safeguarding; Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI); Disagreement and Conflict Resolution; Neurodiversity and Learning Support; Mental Health Awareness; and Bereavement, pupils completing the training qualify as Peer Mentors and take up responsibilities supporting younger pupils either in the senior school or at Cranleigh Prep in numerous areas including learning support and in maintaining and strengthening peer-group friendships.

At Cranleigh, anyone wanting to participate in Drama is equally welcome behind the scenes working in Production Arts. We have a large student crew who provide backstage support to school productions and events, from the smallest House Play to the largest musical. This comprises pupils from the Fourth Form to the Upper Sixth with roles in all areas of lighting and sound, stage management, set construction, costume and makeup. Students will start by taking operational roles leading up to designing their own shows by Sixth Form.