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) spent a day at Go Ape in Battersea Park where they climbed the high ropes and our 13s pupils (Years 9) pushed themselves at Wild Fit in Surrey, working together to conquer the obstacle course. 

To ease them into the Harrodian swing of things, our 11s/Year 7 pupils — nearly half of them new to the school — enjoyed three action-packed team-building days and two nights of camping in Somerset’s Mendip Hills. Paddleboarding, kayaking, rock climbing, and archery were just some of the activities they immersed themselves in.

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 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. Their behaviour throughout was exemplary, and they represented the School with maturity, enthusiasm, and respect, qualities that were noticed and praised by those we encountered during our visit.'

Only five weeks into Harrodian and Beatrice (11s) seems to be taking it all in her stride. Amazing clubs, spacious grounds and a whole load of sports fixtures are just some of the bonuses of her new school life. When it comes to the residential trip, camping for the first time (as opposed to glamping!) and beating Mr Maybury in a game of Active Archery spring to mind as some of her favourite experiences, but the real highlight was the chance to cement recent friendships and make completely new ones. 'Everyone was really welcoming when I joined Harrodian so I made a group of friends pretty quickly. Going away with them meant that I got to know them even better and then I met some of their other friends, so it meant our friendship group expanded!, ' she says. 'And now I feel like I have been here forever!'

Meanwhile Evan, a Harrodian pupil since PP1, is equally enthusiastic about the trip. 'I loved getting stuck in the mud - crawling through the mud-filled trenches in the assault course was so much fun. Although we had to stay in our mud covered clothes for quite a while afterwards which wasn't so fun!' he 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.