The importance of residential trips
Residential trips are key to promoting a strong sense of wellbeing here at Bridgewater School and form an integral part of our enrichment programme, providing new opportunities for learning and the development of key life skills. Supporting cultural enrichment and collective achievement, these experiences are tailored to build confidence, self-awareness and encourage resilience in all our students.
Mr Worthington, pastoral coordinator for Year 8, says: “We firmly believe that children benefit greatly from experiences away from the school environment itself. Residential trips provide a unique opportunity to expand students’ knowledge in new ways, broaden their horizons and deliver a fantastic opportunity for personal development.”
This holistic approach to education begins at an early age. Residential adventure trips are organised for pupils from the age of eight, with children given opportunities to participate in an array of activities and physical challenges away from the confines of the classroom, including climbing, tree top trekking, kayaking and bushcraft. As pupils develop and move onwards through the school, this approach continues with a programme of compulsory bonding trips designed to promote the benefits of taking controlled risks and the importance of teamwork. The programme also provides a valuable opportunity to further friendships and enhance the personal development of students alongside their peers.
Seniors are also encouraged to participate in the Duke of Edinburgh scheme which is about setting personal challenges and pushing personal boundaries. The scheme is open to students from Year 9 and enables the building of traits like confidence, resilience and self-esteem, while developing essential skills for the future. Older students are also given exciting opportunities for wider travel each year with European sporting and cultural tours, international trips and expeditions organised by the pastoral team.
