Primary 1 exploring a park

The pupils enjoyed exploring the variety of different apparatus at the park. The pupils showed an interest in seeing how fast they could spin around on the sat down spinning wheel, achieving the goal of completing the wooden obstacle course independently and taking it in turns to each have a go at seeing how quick they could go as the zip wire moved from one side of the zip line to the other as well as seeing high they could reach when the zip wire got to the end and bounced back. The pupils also enjoyed swinging from one monkey bar to the other with the challenge of turning their bodies around still holding into the monkey bars without falling onto the floor. One of the pupils demonstrated their idea of wrapping their legs around the post to support their body weight for them to take the next step of crossing their arms over with the achieved goal of facing the opposite way which led back to the start. 

Primary 3 explored Hartlebury Common

The pupils showed an interest in exploring the sights of Hartlebury Common with the challenge of finding a big tree for them to have a go at building a rope swing with the teacher and staff using rope to tie around a branch and a log to sit on. While we were walking the pupils enjoyed travelling to the top of the hill as they split into two teams with one group walking in and out of the bushes or the other group having a running race to see who could reach the top the quickest. 

When we got to the top the pupils found a swing which was already made and enjoyed seeing how high they could go as they moved their feet back and forward to balance the weight of their bodies or as a group working together to push their peer's back as well as pulling the sides of the log in the same motion of back and forth. The pupils also showed an interest in spinning their peer's around on the swing really fast that one pupil reacted by saying "look they are going around again". 

creation with Year 10

On the minibus journey the pupils showed an interest in having a go on the scooters at Creation as they talked about what tricks they were going to do and if they could bring their own scooter or "can I bring my BMX in because I have put new wheels on it and a new crank so I will be able to show you my skills".  One pupil said "I am going to do a bunny hop" when another identified what height they were going to achieve on the scooter "I am going to do the highest group, you will see me going down the ramps really quick". 

When we got to Creation each of the pupils put on a safety helmet as we talked about why they had to wear it was to protect their heads if they fell off which was described was more likely going to happen. Each of the pupils were given a scooter. They all went off together as a group exploring different sized ramps with one pupil saying "let me show you how high I can go on this ramp". The pupil went again to see if they could go any higher which they did saying " I definitely went even higher that time". 

The pupils also enjoyed taking it in turns to travel down the ramps one at a time to create a chain reaction and see who could make the highest jump. 

Volley ball match with Year 9

The pupils and staff enjoyed playing a whole class game of volleyball. The pupils and staff took it in turns to pass the ball to each other over the volleyball net as they used the palm of their hands or clinched their fingers together with the goal of seeing who could get score the most points.

walk around Hartlebury Common with Year 8

The pupils enjoyed exploring the sand as they began to draw pictures using their hands and feet. Half of the group showed an interest in going on an adventure trek of climbing to the top of the hill with one pupil saying "look at the view from up here, the trees look really small". The pupils also enjoyed walking along the forest areas as they found a big tree and climbed to the top. The pupils in pairs ran to the bottom of the hill and then back up to see who could run the quickest. On our way back we began to trek through tall grass hedges and tree branches to achieve the end goal of reaching the bottom. The pupils worked together to travel in a variety of movements such as using their arms to move the hedges to the side, lifting their legs up high to step over or communicating between their peers and staff to work out what their thoughts were towards the safe solution to get themselves through. One pupil suggested "why don't you get on your tummy and use your hands and feet to shuffle your body".

football match with Year 7A

The pupils enjoyed playing a game of football at Hartlebury Common with the staff members. The pupils kicked the ball back and forth between one another having a competition to see who could score the most goals by taking it in turns to have a go at scooting with a staff member as the goal keeper. 

DoE expedition Bronze award with Year 9 and 10

Year 9 and 10 took part in the DoE Bronze award independent expedition where they participated in a two day canoeing adventure from Bridgnorth to Bewdley on Thursday and then Bewdley to Stourport on Friday. 

On the first day the pupils were introduced to the instructor who was going to be guiding them along the river as they sat in their pairs in their canoe's while the instructor explained how long they were going to be canoeing and what techniques they would need to use to operate the movement of the canoe by encouraging the pupils to work as a team. Next the pupils and staff members carried their canoe's to the end of the shore. 

As they got to the shore the pupils and staff members began to set off by using their paddles to push themselves from the shore. The pupils communicated between each other by allocating who was going to move their paddle on the left or the right as they started to float along the river. 

On their journey the pupils and staff members explored the adventures of travelling under bridges and through rapids of different speeds. 

Throughout the canoeing journey the pupils and staff members had regular breaks where they enjoyed eating their lunch and going for a swim as they practiced using the techniques of freestyle and backstroke.

After the first stint of canoeing the next part of the expedition was to camp over in a field while they worked in their pairs to set up tents and sleeping bags as that was what they were going to be sleeping in for the one night. Next the pupils took on the role of cooking their own burgers and sausages on two gas stoves. 

The next day the pupils and staff members cooked breakfast of a bacon and egg sandwich, dismantled their tents and sleeping bags, and then set back off for the last part of the canoeing journey to Stourport. 

Year 7a building a den at Tiddesley Woods

The pupils showed an interest in walking along the paths at Tiddesley Woods as they talked about what sights were around them. One of the pupils asked the question "do any animals live here?". We discussed that sometimes you might see sheep lying on the ground eating the grass. 

Halfway through the walk we began to explore the forest areas. The teacher set the pupils a challenge of building a den out of logs. The pupils worked together to search for different sized logs, communicate between one another which tree they were going to use to build their den around and discussed as a group where they were going to place the logs with one pupil saying "shall I put mine here on the other side of the tree". After the pupils had completed their den they enjoyed playing a few games of tracker as they supported one another with finding various places to hide such as behind bushes or in between long grass.

sight seeing with Year 10 and practicing to build a tent for DoE award

The pupils enjoyed walking around Castle Morton Common discussing as a group what sights we could see.

Two of the pupils identified "I can see more trees, bushes and grass". We also saw a cliff and quarry which the pupils had competitions to see who could throw a stone the furthest into the water. While we were walking the pupils showed an interest in exploring the environment by walking over four big stones which were in bedded into the ground, climbing to the top of several small banks which were placed in different areas along the path and travelling in and out the forest areas. The pupils worked together as a group to encourage one another to achieve the goal of reaching to the very top and offered support of guiding each other with one pupil directing their peer saying "if you put your one feet onto that rock you will be able to push yourself up" as well as using the nature around them of "hold onto this stick and I will pull you up". The pupils discovered a building with a lid that led to a drain as they showed an interest in lifting the lid up and looking inside. 

After our walk the teacher explained to the pupils that they were going to practice how to set up the tent they will be using for the DoE expedition. The teacher first explained what equipment they would need to build the structure of the tent such as the shape of the tent, poles, inner covering and pegs. After the pupils watched as the teacher and staff members showed where each of the poles would need to be threaded through to help keep the tent up, which holes the pegs would need to be placed into and how to display them safely as well as how to attach the clips to the correct colour for the inside cover. When the tent was complete the pupils had a go together at sitting inside. The pupils showed their interest in the tent and the expedition with one saying "it is really comfy in here" when another said "I am looking forward to having a sleepover in this tent, look it even has windows so we will be able to see outside".

After the tent was put up we needed to dismantle it. One of the pupils showed an interest in supporting the teacher with taking the inside cover apart first and next to thread the poles through by taking them all out and then lying the tent down onto the floor before one person pulls the poles when the other pushes from the opposite side. Two of the pupils showed an interest in looking at the sheep at a closer distance. One of the pupils described the experience "I was literally stood at arms length that I nearly touched one but it ran off, it was sort of limping".