This year’s annual Year 7 residential visit to the Pioneer Centre was a roaring success.

Our new pupils waved goodbye to their parents on Wednesday 19 September and set off on a three day adventure that would test their physical and mental strength to the limits and see new friendships forged.

Our first stop was West Midlands Safari Park. We were privileged to see lots of the animals as we drove round the enclosures in our private coach. The highlights included uninterrupted views of the white lions and of an antelope that took such a shine to us that he had to be nudged off the road by a ranger’s jeep!

On arrival at the Pioneer Centre girls played icebreaker games that set the flavour of the following three days: teamwork, teamwork, teamwork! After unpacking in the luxurious en-suite bedrooms we had dinner and enjoyed raucous singing and silly games around the campfire.

Day 2 and, in teams of ten, girls began to experience, amongst other things, falconry, rock climbing, abseiling, endurance on the challenge course and numerous initiative challenges, including finding a way through a giant ‘spider’s web’ deep in the Shropshire forest. Next girls spent a manic hour on the biggest bouncy obstacle course I have ever seen and finally a fun evening of karaoke and disco dancing was made even more special because three of our girls were celebrating their birthdays. Exhausted and happy, we flopped into bed thinking of the challenges and fun still ahead.

On day 3 girls enjoyed more activities designed to make them think through problems and work as a team. It was such a pleasure to see girls working things out independently and bonding with each other. By the time lunch came around and we were awaiting our coach back to Kingsley, the atmosphere was alive with the sound of new friendships and eager chatter about the fun enjoyed on the trip.

This was my first visit to the Pioneer Centre. I was very impressed with both the facilities and the varied activities on offer and have seen first hand that this trip encourages togetherness and team mentality. I am sure that Year 7 girls will take the skills they have acquired and the confidence they have gained into the classroom and beyond. I would like to congratulate them all on their exemplary behaviour; they were a credit to their parents, to the school, and most of all, to themselves.

D Morgan, Head of Year