Our Year 8 students recently returned from an action-packed three-day residential at PGL, embarking on a journey defined by courage, teamwork, and resilience. After driving through classic British rain on our first day, the clouds parted just as we arrived at our campsite. There was no time to waste; following lunch, everyone got straight into the thick of it, splitting into activity groups for an epic afternoon of canoeing, climbing, and archery. Whether hitting the bullseye or mastering the paddle, the enthusiasm was infectious, and everyone gave it 100%. After a brilliant first day of outdoor adventure and a hearty dinner, everyone tucked into bed, exhausted but buzzing for day two.

The next morning, after a night of non-stop rain, the clouds cleared just in time for another full-on day across the PGL grounds. The bravery on display was incredible, with huge success on Jacob’s Ladder as students showed pure grit to reach the very top. Reflecting on the immense effort,

Miss Julius, Head of Year 8 and the trip organiser, noted, “I could not be prouder of our Year 8s. Organising a residential is always a whirlwind, but seeing the students step outside their comfort zones, cheer each other on, and show such tremendous grit on activities like Jacob’s Ladder made every bit of planning worth it. They represented our school beautifully.”

The adrenaline kept pumping on the Giant Swing, which definitely lived up to its terrifying reputation and provided plenty of high-pitched screams! The adventure then moved back to the water for kayaking, before groups headed to the field for a fiercely competitive, epic Archery Tag Battle Royale.

Jack S, Year 8, perfectly captured the spirit of the challenges, saying, “The Giant Swing was absolutely terrifying but so amazing! I loved being out on the water for canoeing and kayaking too, even when it was tricky to steer. I’m so tired, but I wish we could go back next week!”

Waking up to a few spots of rain on our final morning wasn’t enough to dampen spirits as we headed straight into our final two activities, ensuring everyone ticked off the challenges they hadn’t yet tried. After a final refuel at lunch, the blue skies made a welcome appearance, just in time to load up the coaches for the journey home.

Hearing about the success of the weekend, our Headteacher, Mr Foskett, praised the resilience of the year group, adding, “Residential trips are a vital part of our students’ growth, offering challenges that cannot be replicated in the classroom. I am delighted to hear how well Year 8 supported one another and threw themselves into every activity, despite the unpredictable British weather! My sincere thanks to Miss Julius and all the staff who gave up their time to make this fantastic experience possible.”

It has been an incredible three days, and our students returned with new skills, strengthened bonds, and memories to last a lifetime.