Residential Trips

Year 2 Swanage, Dorset

In Year 2 St Stephens offers children the opportunity to visit Dorset as part of their Humanities and Science work on ‘the seaside and habitats’. They take a boat trip to the idyllic Brownsea Island to experience island living and find out about the native red squirrels. The island is a haven for wildlife so the aim is to spot lots of wading birds and deer with binoculars at the ready! Children also explore the Jurassic Coast and find out about fossils and different types of rocks at Durlston Country Park.

For their first residential trip at St Stephen’s this trip is for a one night. The children stay at YHA Swanage, which is a large Victorian sea-facing hostel.  Dinner, breakfast and lunch are provided by the hostel. The school travels to and from Dorset by coach.

 

Year 4 Woodrow High House

In Year 4 the children progress to a two night stay at an activities centre in Buckinghamshire. Activities are centred on physical education and bonding activities. The children participate in a range of challenges including archery, low ropes, and problem-solving. They also have the opportunity to sing songs around a campfire and throw some moves at the disco!

 

Year 5 France 

In Year 5, the children study World War 1 in History. After studying this topic, the children have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the WW1 battlefields on the France/Belgium border. Travelling to St Omer, the children stay in a French Chateau and travel to Ypres to visit Tyne Cot Cemetery, Langemark German Cemetery, Menin Gate and Passchendaele Museum. During this trip, the children get to explore the historic trenches and pay respects to the fallen soldiers of WW1, including an old St Stephen’s pupil. They enjoy traditional French cuisine and get a chance to visit a Belgian chocolate shop when in Ypres. This trip is rounded off with a trip Boulogne-sur-Mer, where the children follow a trail to explore the old city and finish with a visit to the beach. This trip extends the children’s historical knowledge, builds independence and encourages team building skills.

 

Year 6 PGL & Spain

In their final year at St Stephen’s Year 6 take part in two, one week residential trips, one in Autumn term and one in Summer term.

PGL: At St Stephen’s we believe that it is very important for the whole cohort of Y6 pupils to take part and enjoy this adventurous experience. It is a hugely enriching bonding experience to kick-start the children’s final year at primary school. The activities at PGL have been carefully selected to improve the children’s knowledge, develop their skills, confidence, and independence, and will be great fun too. The children enjoy activities from abseiling and zip wire, to fencing and problem solving.

Spain: Having completed SATs, Year 6 are offered a second residential trip to further the children’s language learning experience. This trip abroad consists of a four-night full board stay in a Spanish language school in the authentic Spanish town of El Puerto de Santa Maria, near Cadiz in Andalucía. The trip includes cultural excursions (tour of Cadiz, cathedral visit, bull ring, castle) and activities (tapas making, churros eating!) and of course the all-important Spanish language lessons to support the curriculum.