Our home from home was Hartington Hall youth hostel, a beautiful 17th century building with stunning views across the Derbyshire peaks. It was a week jammed packed full of outdoor fun and challenges.

Climbing at Burbage North allowed pupils to build their confidence, tackling increasingly tricky rock faces and learning to belay for each other. Many surprised themselves by discovering that they were able to lower themselves over an edge and expertly abseil to solid ground. 

Raft building required full-on team work as we learnt to lash together heavy wooden poles and secure empty barrels onto our newly built crafts. Each one was put to the test and successfully steered out into the Combs Reservoir. Everyone enjoyed paddling canoes across the water and having fun with competitive games and races. A mighty win for the Fitz teachers was quashed by disqualification, as pupils demonstrated that in the end only fair play wins.

At the end of a day of rough track cycling at Parsley Hay, all the Year 5 children were completely shattered. Even the least experienced cyclists managed a 20km journey up and down the hills and over stony tracks. We enjoyed passing all the new born lambs, grazing cattle and a field of donkeys. 

Our 5 mile hike took us over the peaks and into the dales. We crossed the river, played games enroute and enjoyed more open air picnics. Caving saw children and some brave adults squeezing into tiny underground spaces and learning a great deal about the geological structures of the landscape.

But the activities didn’t finish there. Each evening the school enjoyed some collaborative fun, with team building games, a quiz and a movie night. New friendships were made and existing ones reinforced. 

The teachers were incredibly proud of each and every child. Pupils learnt how to be responsible for dressing and equipping themselves appropriately for each day’s activities. They were tolerant of one another, offering support when some found tasks challenging. Many showed perseverance and resilience, tackling higher climbs, longer cycle rides, precarious raft journeys or simply trying out new foods. Stephen Perse pupils are always curious about the world around them and we enjoyed finding out about the wildlife, the landscape and its eco-system. 

After a screen and device-free week, we returned to our schools exhausted, rosy-cheeked and most definitely more grown up and better prepared for life’s challenges.