Getting Stuck In

The beginning of the academic year is team building high season. Our 11s (Year 7) got stuck in on a residential trip to the Mendip Hills, as did other year groups who enjoyed bonding days out or activities.  

Lower-Sixth Formers kicked off Harrodian's team building sessions with their traditional annual day out, above. Like every student making the transition from GCSEs to A levels, Harrodians face a big step up when they join the Sixth Form. Independent learning, self motivation and overcoming challenges are key to success at this stage in their school careers, as are strong friendships and teamwork. To test their resourcefulness and ability to co-operate and to think through and solve problems together, they participated in a number of tasks both on water and land at the Thames Young Mariners Centre in Ham. 

Meanwhile our 8s (Year 4), above, spent a day at Go Ape in Battersea Park where they climbed the high ropes and our 13s/14s pupils (Years 9/10) worked together in small groups to complete a set of physical and mental challenges run on-site by The Hub Challenge, below. All occasions were a great way to welcome new joiners and encourage new and existing friendships to flourish.

To ease them into the Harrodian swing of things, ours 11s/Year 7 pupils - nearly half of them new to the school –enjoyed three action-packed team-building days and two nights camping in Somerset's Mendip Hills. The trip provided the perfect opportunity for new and existing pupils to integrate, build strong bonds and forge friendships. A great team spirit was generated by learning and achieving together but also by having less structured fun together, especially with free time in the evenings when the children sang songs around the campfire, chatted in their tents, and played games. 

Dan Maybury, leader of the trip and 11s Head of Year, is keen to point out how vital the trip is for the year group. 'The 11s residential trip is a no brainer - it has become an important rite of passage in the transition from Harrodian's Lower Prep or from primary school, ' he insists. 'It gives the children a chance to get to know each other outside the formality of the classroom and I just loved seeing how well they got on and how they bonded as a group. And despite the very wet weather and all the mud, the 11s really got stuck in and nothing could dampen their spirits!' 

Only four weeks into Harrodian and Henry seems to be taking it all in his stride. Amazing clubs, spacious grounds and a whole load of sports fixtures are just some of the bonuses of his new school life. When it comes to the residential trip, participating in Archery Active and night-time tent chats were his preferred activities but the overall highlight of the trip was the chance to make new friends. 'Everyone was really welcoming when we joined Harrodian but I did notice that there were already some girls and boys in friendship groups. The trip really changed that -  we have all shuffled around a bit and groups of friends have expanded to include some of us newbies,' he says. 

 

Meanwhile Kitty, a Harrodian pupil since Reception, is equally enthusiastic about the trip. 'I loved the rock climbing even though I felt terrified at first seeing how high we had to climb, but the sense of achievement at the end when you look all the way down is amazing!,' she says. 'Before going on the trip though, there were some new 11s that I hadn't had a chance to talk to properly yet. Three days away on this trip means I have got to know everyone now!'

Loved by pupils and staff alike, it is clear why team building season is such an established part of the school calendar - it is both useful and effective in growing unity and cohesion within year groups, especially at those points when many new children are joining Harrodian or when pupils are moving to a more senior level of the School.                                            

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