Taste of life in the great outdoors

Nov 5 2008

by Aranda Garrard, The Journal

DAY trips and residential visits have always been an integral part of a King’s education. King’s is fortunate in having its own Field Centre in the Cheviot Hills near Rothbury which acts as a residential centre for younger pupils and is also the hub of our extensive Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme expeditions. King’s is by far the biggest D of E school in the area with up to 100 Bronze and 50 Silver and 50 Gold Awards being achieved each year. In Year 5, pupils spend a few nights away in the Cheviots and the length and variety of these stays develops as they get older. This year a total of 26 residential trips took place with pupils canoeing in the Ardeche, studying French, German and Spanish in these countries, geologists and geographers researching volcanic activity in Sicily and sports tours to Yorkshire, Scotland, Barcelona, Prague and Barbados. Senior pupils spend 18 months preparing for and raising money to take on a ‘World Challenge’ expedition – adventurous activity combined with community work in a remote part of the world. In 2006, a King’s party spent a month in Ecuador teaching Amer-Indian children and building a junior school playground. This year, a party of 46 pupils and staff spent the summer in Malaysian Borneo, working with children in the rainforest. AFTER an unannounced Ofsted inspection of its early years provision, King’s junior school has received an ‘Outstanding’ verdict. The inspection focussed on the teaching and learning, welfare and care of its youngest pupils and the provision was rated outstanding in every category – the highest possible rating that Ofsted awards. Copies of the full report are available from the junior school.