Residential visits
We believe each child is entitled to a broad and balanced curriculum accessed through active learning opportunities with appropriate chances for enrichment; school visits and residential trips are an essential and integral part of doing this. They provide an essential resource for the teaching of the National Curriculum but even more crucially, an opportunity to extend our children’s understanding and knowledge of the world and a fabulous opportunity to improve social skills through working as part of a team on collaborative work.
Each year our Junior children are offered a residential visit. We feel that these trips are of great value to the children and this has been recognised by parents, other schools and indeed in all our Ofsted reports.
The following are comments from our parents ...
"Great opportunity and invaluable."
"These residential visits have been incredible for my child. She has grown in so many ways that we cannot provide at home. Bonding with her peers and being away from home are such confidence boosting values. The curriculum covered is done in such a fun, hands-on way and I think the value for money is INCREDIBLE."
"My daughter cannot wait to go on her extended learning residential visit. She has watched her older siblings gain confidence, knowledge and independence from these trips. I think the value obtained from an adventurous trip away from home is immeasurable. The trips offer very good value for money and are such an important rite of passage. An exciting step towards independence in safety, while being challenging and incredibly rewarding."
"My child has benefited enormously from the residential trips. We have a privileged home life but cannot replicate the challenges and achievements these trips offer. The steps towards independence are vitally important – my child is very allergic to a variety of things and she has been nervous of being away from home; this environment has offered her the challenge to be more independent while still safe. The trips have also bonded the peer group incredibly and have given the children such an incredible variety of experiences and challenges to overcome. They have also tried a whole host of AMAZING activities which are incredibly expensive to try elsewhere and offered up very surprising results and new interests – who would have thought my ten year old daughter would like to take up rifle shooting?! I cannot support these trips enough, I think they offer unrivaled value for money too and we are so lucky to have them for our children."
If you would like more information about any of these trips, including details of the costs and payment timings, please don't hesitate to contact the school office.
Year 3 & 4 - The Gordon Brown Centre
The Gordon Brown Centre is a 25 acre environmental education centre in Rotherwick, just outside of Hook. It is owned by Brent Council and has been open since the mid 1970s. It is named after a Brent scientist who believed that every child should have the opportunity to experience the environment in which we live and make a contribution to keeping the planet safe.
Each child that comes to the centre is made to feel safe, comfortable and spends time with our staff whilst having a huge amount of fun! Staff who live and work at the centre share the space with a large number of well-loved animals, including goats, donkeys, rabbits, chinchillas, chickens, pigs, tortoises and terrapins.
The children make their first visit to GBC in Year 3 as a day trip in the autumn term to get them familiar with the surroundings. They are then invited to stay for three fun packed days and two nights in May. Their programme includes shelter building, pond dipping, mini beast hunt and environmental art.
In Year 4 the trip is extended by a further day and night and takes place during the same week as the Year 3 visit. Their programme includes river study, fires and cooking, food chains, canoeing and archery.
Confirmation of costs and the payment schedule will be sent out to parents in the Autumn Term. Should you have any concerns or questions before then, please contact Mrs Hallett.
years 5 & 6 - Calshot Activity Centre
In a prime location on the shores of the Solent, Calshot Activities Centre is one of the largest outdoor adventure centres in Britain. Their outdoor learning programme is focused on helping young people develop mental and physical resilience and confidence. Students learn to look after themselves and others, while achieving success through exciting outdoor activities in new and inspiring settings.
Their top class facilities, excellent equipment and experienced staff combine to make the children's stay at Calshot a truly memorable experience. With a superb programme of activities throughout the day and into the evening, this trip really does help to build confidence and skills.
Our Year 5 children stay at the centre from Tuesday to Friday in March with a packed itinerary of climbing, dry slope skiing, river and coastal study, abseiling and other team building activities.
Year 6 pupils have a more water based programme including kayaking, windsurfing and sailing and they too will enjoy the climbing and skiing facilities. Their trip is for three nights and takes place in June.
Confirmation of costs and the payment schedule will be sent out to parents in the Autumn Term. Should you have any concerns or questions before then, please contact Mrs Hallett.
