St Edward's School
OUR
EXPEDITIONS
SELF DISCOVERY
Our enduring aim is to enable every pupil attending St Edward’s to encounter a caring, interested and considerate team of adults. We are committed to ensuring our pupils derive satisfaction, success, enlightenment and fun from their school days, emerging from this experience of school as more confident, more assured and more concerned young adults with a renewed determination to do their best in the world.
YOUR EXPERIENCES
Our activities programme, whilst incentivising pupils to engage in the curriculum and display expected behaviours, also serves to encourage pupils to step outside their comfort zones and gain confidence as they embrace new experiences; often ones that they thought inaccessible to them.
Our expeditions, whether camping in the tranquillity of the New Forest on our doorstep, negotiating the high ropes course of an outdoor activity centre in Brecon, or learning to surf off the coastline of North Devon, are there to promote health, encourage positive attitudes towards the environment, enhance communication skills and increase self-reliance and confidence in every pupil.
WATER SPORTS CAMP
A group of adventurous pupils from St Edward's School embarked on an unforgettable water sports expedition in the stunning coastal region of North Devon. This action-packed journey was filled with thrilling activities, breathtaking scenery, and unforgettable memories that will last a lifetime.
The expedition kicked off with pupils taking on the mighty waves of North Devon. Equipped with surfboards and a sense of adventure, they rode the waves, honing their surfing skills under the guidance of experienced instructors from ‘Nick Thorn Surf School.’ Bodyboarding was also experienced by the group, where they rode the waves close to the shoreline at Croyde Beach under the watchful RNLI.
But the fun didn't stop there! Our pupils also had the opportunity to explore the rugged coastline through coasteering. This thrilling activity involves traversing cliffs, swimming through rock pools, and jumping into the crystal-clear waters below.
Beyond the water, pupils ventured into the picturesque countryside on mountain bikes, exploring the scenic trails that winded through the stunning North Devon landscape.At the end of each day, the group gathered around a crackling campfire, sharing stories, laughter, and marshmallow-filled treats. The campsite at Combas Farm near Putsborough Sands provided the perfect backdrop for bonding and reflection. To top the week off, a meal at the Blue Groove restaurant in Croyde was greatly received, where pupils ordered from a menu of locally sourced food; some even tried locally sourced mussels and squid.
The St Edward's School North Devon Water Sports Expedition was a resounding success, allowing our pupils to step out of their comfort zones, challenge themselves physically and mentally, and immerse themselves in the beauty of the great outdoors.
ROUND THE ISLAND
BOAT RACE
The annual Round the Island Race is a one-day yacht race around the Isle of Wight, over a distance of 50 nautical miles. The race attracted over 1,200 boats and around 12,000 sailors, making it one of the largest yacht races in the world and the fourth largest participation sporting event in the UK after the London Marathon and the Great North and South Runs.
We carried our replica of the Lampedusa cross lashed to the guardrails to demonstrate our support for the CAFOD ‘Share the Journey’ initiative; raising awareness of the plight of refugees around the world and also contributing mileage to the cause.
The pupils, who had previously attended Wednesday sailing at Royal Lymington Yacht Club, spent many hours training aboard Moonbeam through the winter months, preparing for the race and learning a range of skills that included personal safety and responsibility for others, heavy weather sailing and man-overboard drills.
The hard effort and resilience displayed by the ‘Moonbeam’ crew secured a win in its class. The boys were presented with the Raymarine Young Sailor Award and are now the proud custodians of the splendid trophy.
WALES EXPEDITION
We are pleased to share with you some highlights from our most recent Expedition to Wales. Our pupils enjoyed taking part in activities led by the Cardiff International Whitewater Centre. A selection of year 11 pupils ended their time at St Edward’s School with a week-long expedition to Wales. Here our pupils put into practice learnt skills and knowledge that they had acquired whilst being a St Edward’s pupil.
The week consisted of exhilarating activities such as White Water Rafting, Paddle Boarding, Gorge Walking, High Ropes and Raft Building. Our pupils exceeded expectations when conquering these activities, however; most of the highlights were produced in our down time at camp, visiting the lake of Pen Y Fan and taking a trip to see Brecon’s beautiful waterfalls. This is when the pupils displayed a number of excellent traits which confirmed already what we knew, all of them being ready and prepared for the next chapter in their life. Good luck to all of our leavers. You are and will always be part of the St Edward’s family!