Today 5 students, Mr Starks and Miss Lindsey headed out for some Sea Kayaking. It was meant to be a friendly first trip as although all students had paddled before it has been on rivers. The wind was picking up as we headed out along The Hoe, accross to Jennycliff Bay and beat us back just before we reached Fort Bovisand. We then had great fun rock hopping along the coast back to The Hoe and eventually back to out start point  by Mayflower Marina

Year 7 Final Dartmoor Trip

The 3rd and final Year 7 Whiteworks Trip went well with 17 students having a great time with a short walk, teambuilding games, nightline and campfire.

PADI OW Sea Dives

Today the Sport and Adventure Bac students headed off to Fort Bovisand for some Open Water Dive Training. Visibility varied between poor and ok whilst the water temperature was around 15 degrees.

Year 7 Whiteworks Trip

On the second of the Year 7 Trips to Whiteworks Bunkhouse we were again treated to excellent weather and great views as we walked in from Norsworthy Bridge. An evening of Team Building challenges followed before dinner and a nightline.

PADI Open Water Pool Session 2

Back in the Pool today with the Sport and Adventure Baccalaureatte students for their second day of the PADI Open Water Course. We looked at the final skills including no mask swim, removal of weight belts and free flowing regulators

Next week we will be going to out into the Sea

Sheep's Tor Climbing

Today we headed for Sheep's Tor for VI Form Climbing. We have a vast mixture of abilities now. Some students are leading at HS 4b whilst others were Top Roping and Bouldering. The weather was fantastic and although it was busy with 2 other groups we managed to work round them and all have a good time.

Year 7 Overnight Experience

This weekend was the first of the Year 7 overnight experiences at Whiteworks. A walk from Norsworthy Bridge, Team Building challenges, a campfire and a nightline all on Friday afternnon and Saturday morning was a waalk out and upto Princetown.

PADI Open Water Pool Session 1

 (L to R) Miss Lindsey, Ana, Sean, Hayley (Instructor), Will

 Will and Sean (Mr Starks' bad videoing)

Today the Sport and Adventure students started their confined water training of the PADI Open Water Diver qualification. We spent a couple of hours in the pool going through mask and regulator clearing techniques as well as looking at out of air scenarios.

Marjon's Wall

Wednesday afternoon 6th Form Climbing has started up again and although I was hopeful of an outside climb, the rain forced us into the wall.

Boarders Prefect Training

This weekend has been spent at the school bunkhouse on Dartmoor with the boarding prefects doing team challenges and scenario training. The result was cooking a lovely 3 course dinner and running activities this afternoon for the younger boarders.

School Climbing Wall Revamped

Finally the school climbing wall has had a new lease of life. Mr Jackson started the process back in June and Miss Lindsey and Mr Starks spent last night and this morning with bolts and resin. A number of the holds are now on and new ropes are up. A few hours or so more work will see the wall completely finished. Just a day or two of drying time required first.

Lower 6th Team Building

In order to welcome the Lower 6th Form back into school and to help them bond with new pupils, we had a morning session of team building challenges where the tutor groups rotated around the seven activities. It is amazing how hard it is for 13 pupils to lower a tent pole to the ground!

Clearly as the summer holidays are over and the school term has begun, it decided to be hot and sunny all day.

New Staff join the Department

WELCOME TO NEW STAFF

It is all change here in the Outdoor Education Department. Following the departure of Mr Brice and Mr Jackson, the following staff have joined the department. By appointing some part time staff, this now gives us a vast array of experience, qualifications and flexibility meaning we can offer even more to our students.

Mr G. Kelly

Mr G Kelly, a previous student of Plymouth College, is local and runs his own Outdoor Education company. He is working with us in a part time capacity. As a holder of the Mountaineering Instructor Award he will be a great asset to the climbing and mountaineering activities we do. He is also a qualified Sea Kayak Coach so will be out on the water aswell.

Miss C. Lindsey

Miss C Lyndsey comes to us straight from a BA (Hons) in Outdoor Adventure at Marjon University. She is already a qualified Paddlesport Coach and Indoor Climbing instructor and is working towards a clutch of other instructor qualifications. She will be working with both Boarding and Outdoor Education so will have a fulltime post at the school.

Mr M. Agnew

Mr M Agnew also has his own company and is working part time with us. He is both a White Water and Sea Kayak Coach as well as being a Climbing and Mountain Bike instructor. He will be working across a broad range of activities and also running some Kayak Coach courses for us.