Expeditions Full of Exploring, Paddling, and Soaring to New Heights
The new term began with Expedition Weekend and Duke of Edinburgh trips at Gold (Lower Sixth) and Silver (Year Ten) levels as well as the CCF Royal Navy trip to HMS Excellent and RAF trip to RAF Cosford.
Pupils Reach New Heights and Conquer the Black Mountains
Year Ten pupils completed their Silver Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Practice Expedition in the Black Mountains in the Brecon Beacons National Park. The pupils worked in teams, and after camping overnight on Thursday set out on a self-sufficient two-day journey culminating in climbing to nearly 700m above sea level to pass into the Grwyne Fawr valley high above the Mynydd Du Forest where the teams finished on Saturday afternoon. Despite the generally good weather, some teams did find themselves in the cloud at the top.
Mr Dominic Jay, Head of Silver Duke of Edinburgh Award
Paddling the Conwy Estuary and River Dee
Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award students had a fantastic time in North Wales, paddling part of the Conwy estuary as well as the River Dee. The teams coped admirably in all weathers and all conditions. Everyone honed their skills further ready for their assessment expeditions. The students returned to School tired but quietly proud of their achievements.
Mr Gwilym Batchelder, Head of Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award
High-Flying Adventures for RAF Cadets
Cadets travelled to our local RAF station at Cosford for the Spring Field Trip. On the first evening, they received a presentation from the University of Birmingham Air Squadron, who outlined a range of positive experiences and delivered information about the opportunities and funding available to young people in the RAF as they progress into Higher Education.
On the Friday, Cadets participated in an interactive cyberspace workshop with IT specialists demonstrating how careers in the military embrace new technologies and led to discussions about exciting new careers that exist in the field. This was before visiting a working hangar to interact with personnel in specialist engineering trades working on a range of aircraft including the Typhoon and Red Arrow platforms. In the evening, the Cadets attended a presentation by a senior fighter pilot who gave a talk about his experiences and emphasised the need for resilience in any given situation. During the final morning, the Cadets enjoyed a competitive laser tag battle, which clearly demonstrated the camaraderie as well as the leadership and teamwork in the RGS RAF Section.
The trip was a great success with the Cadets engaging in a number of important and interesting activities relating to the Royal Air Force. Receiving compliments from the staff at RAF Cosford, they were a credit to the School and to the CCF.
Pilot Officer Webster
A Voyage Through Naval History
The RN Section Cadets went on manoeuvres to visit Portsmouth Historic Dockyard. Dressed in their No.4’s, we marched into the Dockyard and went straight to Boathouse 4 to embark on a Landing Craft F8 that was on HMS Fearless during the Falklands Conflict.
The group split into two parties with one going for a tour of HMS Victory whilst the other went on a shuttle ferry to the Explosions Museum. The Victory party then went on board HMS M.33, a warship that was used in the Gallipoli Campaign during the First World War. The Explosion cadets then went on HMS Victory.
After that, we boarded the coach for a trip to Fort Purbrook where we were accommodated for the night. Well fed and watered, we then returned to the Dockyard the following day and spent some time in Action Stations before boarding a SERCO Ferry for a great harbour tour. Whilst on the Harbour tour we saw HMS Prince of Wales, HMS Iron Duke and several P2000’s.
The Field day thus came to an end and we returned home, hopefully with a little more knowledge about our Naval History.
Commander Shorrocks
Thank you to all of the RGS staff who gave up their time so early in term to provide these opportunities for the pupils. Well done to the pupils for engaging so well on your expeditions and trips and for being a credit to the School.