We left school on Monday bright-eyed and excited, and after a week of laughter, singing, challenge and adventure, we returned to school on Friday (today) exhausted, but filled with life-long memories.

On Monday, after being eagerly waved off by parents, we made our way to Ferry Meadows, where thankfully we were able to avoid being soaked while completing Mrs Norden’s orienteering challenge. After eating our lunch in the meadow, we set off to Caythorpe. Upon arrival, we were greeted by our lovely leader for the week, Shanna, who gave us a guided tour of the campus before showing us to our accommodation to get settled. We then ate our dinner before heading for a campfire, where we sang songs and toasted marshmallows until sunset.

On Tuesday, the children were up long before the adults - buzzing in anticipation of the day ahead. After filling their bellies in the canteen, the four groups headed in different directions to start their sessions. They learned survival skills, braved the giant swing, climbed the vertical challenge and honed their archery skills. The day ended with a sports night, with rounders and dodgeball on the menu.

On Wednesday, everyone tried some abseiling (a first for many) and were blindfolded for over an hour on the sensory trail, where teamwork and communication was a necessity to navigate the trail safely and successfully. In the afternoon, we did some more orienteering and then faced the famous PGL high ropes, where children had to overcome their fears to complete the course - most children doing so more than once. In the evening, our robot wars session was rudely interrupted by a rain storm and we had to make a mad dash for the Victorian hall in the centre of campus - it was certainly a funny evening.

By Thursday morning, the tables had turned: where earlier in the week it was the children noisily waking the teachers, it was now the teachers noisily waking the tired children. 

Throughout the day, children worked together to ascend Jacob’s ladder, as well as solve various tricky problems. They also had to build rafts and test them on the lake. Some were more successful than others, but the majority of the children ended up in the water, along with some of the adults, too. Everyone also tried the trapeze, where children had to leap from an obscene height and try to grab -and keep hold of- the bar.

As it was our last evening, everyone put on their glad rags (or just their leavers hoodies) and went for a dance at the disco hall. After this, the lights were out and the noise had ceased by 10pm, as the children wearily collapsed into their beds for one last sleep before their final day.

On the final day, we woke up early to pack up our things before our final two activities: rifle shooting and climbing. We then had our final meal before jumping on the coach to head home.

The children were a credit to the school throughout the week: enthusiastic, brave and caring. Above all, they were resilient and supportive - and displayed fantastic teamwork. They overcame their fears and achieved so much; they can feel very proud of themselves when they go to bed tonight.

Well done to all of them for representing themselves and the school so well.

 

Look out for the photo gallery which will be uploaded soon