On arrival we were greeted with dry weather to pitch our tents. We were then treated to three days of perfect sunshine and surfable waves. Students all made excellent progress in their surf lessons with the coaches commending the student's effort and teamwork. Everyone had lots of fun on the beach although there must of been an few more stones washed up in the winter as the number of stubbed toes was at an all time high! Despite a few tired eyes on the last day their spirits were still high, as the students chucked themselves into their last surf lesson of the week. All the surf staff and campsite staff commented on the students' excellent manners and behaviour, they were a credit to the school and made the whole trip an enjoyable experience for everyone.
Wet and Wild students and staff had a great week taking part in a variety of activities! We started the week rock climbing and raft building at Haven Banks before being up high navigating through the trees at Tamar Trails. The rafts were impressive this year and thankfully no one sank! We then explored Kent’s Cavern and saw what complete darkness was like before taking on the slides at Splashdown waterpark.
On the final day, we went to Woodlands theme park where the students got to ride all of the attractions including getting soaking wet on the water rides! Everyone had a brilliant time, and we are already looking forward to next year!
It was a fantastic week for the All Sports group which saw them participate in a variety of activities throughout the week. Monday started with a morning of different sports at the school before heading off to the Life Centre for a spot of indoor climbing which saw some students conquer their fear of heights.
Tuesday saw the students beat Mr Britchford at bowling before coming back to school to continue their exploration of different sports including handball and lacrosse! Wednesday saw the Sir John Hunt Olympics take place with students designing their own flags and countries before taking part in Olympic sports in threes culminating in the closing ceremony to crown the winners in the afternoon. The week was finished off with a day at central park participating in pitch and putt golf and football golf.
A brilliant week overall allowing students to sample different sports in a friendly and competitive environment. Roll on next year!!
Due to its high demand, Pick and Mix was split into two groups. For Pick and Mix (Year 7 and 8) the week started with a very wet trip to Woodlands, but despite the weather the groups spirits were high and the excitement grew as we drove through the gates. Students enjoyed a day of drop slides, ball pits, boat slides and pirate ships, not to mention visiting the animals. The weather took a complete turn and the sun came out for day two. Paignton Zoo was our venue and from the outset the group were really excited to see the plethora of animals. Lions and Tigers and Bears...Oh My! Day Three and we dove in to Splashdown. The weather was great and the group loved sliding their way around! Day four and we visited Devon's Crealy. Despite the queues, the group had a great time and loved the different rides. We had a great week and it was a really lovely way to spend the final week of term
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For Pick and Mix (Year 9 and 10) there was particular excitement for the visit to Paignton Zoo where students showed a willingness to learn about the animal kingdom, as they eagerly explored the exhibits despite the pouring rain! In the theme parks, they enjoyed tackling the thrilling rides, the highlight of the week being a very sunny day at Splashdown, which was the perfect finish to the week. The students showed respect throughout the week, making the trip an unforgettable and enriching experience for everyone involved.
After arriving in London on Monday, we wasted no time in getting out to explore - the first stop being the oldest and largest toy shop in the world - Hamley's! We explored Regent Street, Oxford Street, Carnaby Street and took in the lights of Picadilly Circus.
Tuesday was our big day! A visit to both the Natural History Museum and the Science Museum. This was followed by a meander through London which took in Harrods, the Wellington Arch and Buckingham Palace. After lots of selfies and fun in the iconic Lego and M&M stores, we settled in for an excellent performance of the Lion King musical. Wednesday saw us enter the magical world of Harry Potter, with our birthday girl being lucky enough to start our tour by opening the doors to the Great Hall. Students got to try Butterbeer - many of them very surprised by the taste! Thursday was our last full day and started with a wander through the graffiti tunnels of the Leake Street arches under Waterloo station. Following this was a riverboat cruise on the Thames with an excellent tour guide and then stunning views across London on the London Eye. From here we continued our journey to see the Cenotaph, Horse Guard's Parade and Trafalgar Square, ending our week with McFlurries in Leicester Square!
Extreme week had another successful 4 days of 'extreme' activities! The group arrived on a rainy and windy Monday morning in high spirits ready to hit the waves on Bigbury beach. The students enjoyed paddle boarding around the coast and the majority managed to remain on their boards despite the weather! The fun continued on Tuesday with some fantastic surfing on display.
When Wednesday arrived the group were happy to remain on dry land but climbing high up into the trees at Tamar trails. This activity required team work and bravery to also zip along a 60ft line. The final day the group travelled to adrenaline quarry where they were also fortunate enough to meet the Exeter Chiefs rugby team who had rented out the aqua park before their session. This was their most exciting activity of the week and it was amazing to see the smiles on their faces!
We had a fantastic week on Art and Culture and have really enjoyed experimenting with different types of Art work. We started the week with a train journey to St Ives where we visited the Tate gallery and enjoyed seeing the work on display as well as enjoying some interesting talks.
On Tuesday, inspired by our findings on the previous day, we explored print making to create our own work and spent the afternoon working on our drawing. On Wednesday, we were lucky enough to take part in a workshop at Plymouth Art College. We used our sense of smell to evoke emotions/memories and painted based on this. We then received a tour of the College and a tour about artistic careers. We ended the week with a trip to Saltram, where we went for a lovely walk and practiced our drawings and collected some nature items to draw back at school.
One of our long standing trips was the horse riding lessons at Wembury Riding School. This place was once again the perfect setting for students that have a range of experience with horses and other animals. The group learn the basics of horsemanship in order to prepare them for venturing out along the coast and doing treks through miles of woodland.
During Football Frenzy, the students had the unique opportunity to experience the life of a footballer, guided by the professional coaches of Plymouth Argyle. Throughout the week, they participated in intensive training sessions, honing their skills under the expert supervision of the coaches.
The students were outstanding, demonstrating remarkable ambition and endeavour in every drill and match. Their dedication to improving their techniques and understanding of the game was evident, and they maintained a high level of respect for both the coaches and each other. This immersive experience not only enriched their football abilities but also instilled in them valuable lessons of teamwork, discipline and sportsmanship.
It was a fantastic week for the All Sports group which saw them participate in a variety of activities throughout the week. Monday started with a morning of different sports at the school before heading off to the Life Centre for a spot of indoor climbing which saw some students conquer their fear of heights.
Tuesday saw the students beat Mr Britchford at bowling before coming back to school to continue their exploration of different sports including handball and lacrosse! Wednesday saw the Sir John Hunt Olympics take place with students designing their own flags and countries before taking part in Olympic sports in threes culminating in the closing ceremony to crown the winners in the afternoon. The week was finished off with a day at central park participating in pitch and putt golf and football golf.
A brilliant week overall allowing students to sample different sports in a friendly and competitive environment. Roll on next year!!
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