During the week of 27th June to 1st July, Activities Week took place. This year we had three groups of pupils venture out to the Isle of Wight, the Lake District, as well as some of the many exciting places around London…
Isle of Wight
A range of mixed year groups attended the Isle of Wight with Mr Hegarty supported by several members of staff. They all arrived in blazing sunshine, happily located at Tapnell Farm and the sun continued to shine all week. Each year group were allocated a range of tasks suitable for their age group and then they often came together for collective tasks like aqua park, bell bathing, leadership challenges and a range of physical games, all of which were thoroughly enjoyed by all. Perhaps the most popular highlight was the accommodation, which was basically the high end of glamping! Tents with showers, toilets and verandas with eco-cabins for many – so comfort for all.
It was a fantastic week and went a long way towards shaking off the Covid-blues! Refreshed and reinvigorated they are all now looking forward to a summer break with an exciting new term on the horizon.
Horse Riding in the Lake District
Pupils from Years 7 – 10 ventured to the Lake District once again for an intensive week of horse riding. Pupils learnt how to take-up their ponies, care for their needs such as learn how to feed them, groom them, and handle them. They learnt about horse-passports, parts of the horse, and how best to keep them safe and healthy.
Pupils rode twice a day, and learnt how to perfect their rising trot, canter and pole and jump work. The scenery was idyllic, and the sound, or lack there of in the evenings was incredible! All in all, a wonderful experience for all involved. Thank you to Miss Calderwood and Mr Rodriguez for taking them on such a wonderful trip. Can’t wait till next year!Â
For more images of the trip, watch this video:Â https://youtu.be/s4N_GYM8YlY
London-based Trips
Day 1: On Monday the groups started the day with a visit to the Victoria and Albert Museum which was followed by a pinic lunch in the V&A garden. Later on, pupils returned to school for an afternoon of screen printing with the Art department.
Day 2:Â On Tuesday, the group took a walking tour of the Thames. They began at Borough Market as the stalls set up for the day, then walked down past the Globe theatre to the Tate Modern. Here they all went on a scavenger hunt around floors 3 and 4, collecting information about the art work for a small prize. The group then had a picnic lunch outside the gallery facing the river, then embarked on a longer walk along the South Bank to Vauxhall. This took in St Pauls’ Cathedral, Waterloo Bridge, the London Eye and a contemplation of the Covid Memorial Wall. The day then ended feeding goats and ducks at Vauxhall City Farm.
Day 3: A good time was had by all on Wednesday. The day started off at the Escape Rooms in King’s Cross, where the group got into three teams to see which one could escape first. The winning team belonged to Mr Millard and Dr James but they needed help, so they weren’t that good! After this, everyone walked along the canal to Granary Square where they had something to eat and drink while watching a bit of Wimbledon on a huge screen they had kindly erected for Mrs Tunnicliffe. Everyone then made their way back to Hyde Park, where they were able to relax and have ice cream before heading back to school.
Day 4: Thursday’s activities saw pupils visit the Tiffany Collection at the Saatchi Gallery and end with an afternoon boating on the Serpentine.
Day 5: The final day… Pupils went on a trip to London Mithraeum and City, exploring trees and public artwork. They then returned to school in the afternoon to prepare a presentation for assembly on Monday to share what they had been up to with the rest of the school.
