At St Dunstan's Junior School, we believe that these experiences enrich the taught curriculum. They foster deeper and often new relationships with peers, develop resilience, teamwork skills and increase independence, as well as a sense of belonging.
Pupils form new friendships, developing their confidence and self-awareness through the variety of experiences they encounter. The memories made on these trips are invaluable and pupils speak about their trips and the adventures they have experienced with fondness and delight.
From Year 2 to Year 6, pupils are offered a range of opportunities to experience the benefits of learning in an out-of-school context with high quality, overnight residential trips.
In Year 2, pupils camp on the school grounds overnight and take part in team-building activities, enjoy a summer barbeque together and spend time around a campfire.
In Year 3, pupils spend two nights and three days on their residential trip which is usually in Surrey or Kent, following a team-building theme. They learn key life skills including how to prepare food, keep their room tidy, packing skills, making the bed, all at the same time as having fun with their friends.
The wide range of activities available to them, beyond the classroom, further enhances their understanding of their own characters and supports them in developing social and communication skills. Independent Schools Inspectorate, April 2024
Year 4 journey to Sheringham, Norfolk, to spend three nights away at the Hilltop Activity Centre. There, the pupils experience a variety of activities, the picturesque location and the opportunity to develop their teamwork and collaboration. Pupils also journey to the British coastline to enjoy the beach, examine rock pools and explore the effects of erosion. The activities during the day include obstacle courses, problem solving activities and even the high swing. In the evenings, pupils enjoy games in the woods, an evening walk and a disco.
Year 5 pupils embark on four nights away, completing team-building activities and experiencing life by the sea at Little Manor on the Isle of Wight. From abseiling to buggy building, braving the high swing and creating beach sand art, all pupils confront a challenge and try something new in a fun, safe environment on their action-packed adventure week away.
When pupils are in Year 6, they travel further afield for five nights to Maison Claire Fontaine, in Burgundy, France. This visit is part of the Modern Foreign Languages curriculum and the focus of the trip is a completely immersive French-speaking experience. All lessons and activities are led by teachers who are bilingual native French language speakers and the increased confidence pupils have when speaking French upon their return is quite remarkable.
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Trips and Residentials
