Activities Week

Pupils in Years 7 to 9 enjoyed time beyond the classroom to learn new skills, get outdoors and give back as part of an action-packed week.

This year, with travel restrictions lifted, pupils made the most of being able to expand their horizons. Year 7 enjoyed a three-day team-building adventure at PGL Liddington. On their return, still remarkably full of energy, they collaborating creatively on a three-day Independent Learning Project – read more.

Year 8 embarked on an ambitious three-day entrepreneurial project in partnership with a school in Rwanda, collaborating with pupils in Kigali on sustainability and social action initiatives.  They also set off via Primrose Hill for a carbon-zero trip to London Zoo to learn about ecosystems and the impact of climate change on various animals and habitats, enjoying the immersive exhibits, getting close to sloths, lemurs and spiders. Pupils also explored Tudor life with a day trip to Hampton Court Palace, and planned routes, pitched tents and cooked outdoors as part of an outdoor education day.

Year 9 also embraced the outdoors, helping out with litter-picking and weed-clearing on Hampstead Heath; braving an adventurous climb to the top of The O2; and going on an ecology trip to Epping Forest. They ended the week with an outdoor education day in the Chiltern Hills, learning navigation and first aid skills, as most of the year group set off on their Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Assessed Expedition. Other highlights of the week included putting their Latin into practice a Classics trip exploring the Verulamium Museum in St Albans.

Activities Week was introduced last year to help the whole school community to broaden their horizons and collaborate following lockdowns; it is now a popular annual event to encourage pupils to rediscover the joy of learning for learning’s sake.