Senior School enrichment week 2022

Year 7

Year 7 went on a residential trip to the Brecon Beacons, visited Kew Gardens and enjoyed the Year 7 geography travel show.

The Kew gardens visit included a sketchbook workshop, drawing what they could see, feel and describe using a range of drawing techniques. They enjoyed the tree top walk and the temperate house and found the art exhibition in the Shirley Sherwood Gallery mesmerising.

‘Australian artist Tanya Schultz, who works as Pip & Pop, presented her debut London exhibition at the on-site Shirley Sherwood Gallery of Botanical Art. Using candy-coloured materials including sugar, modelling clay and sweets, Schultz creates eye-popping immersive installations that explore themes such as consumption, wish fulfilment and abundance.’

The annual Travel Show involved Year 7 selling a different region of the UK to their parents. Pupils worked in teams to research their chosen region and then creatively presented information about it. There were flags, kilts, Cornish pasties, cups of tea and even deep fried mars bars on offer. A big thank you to all of the parents who came along and supported the event.

Year 7 enjoyed an adventurous few days in the Brecon Beacons during enrichment week, where they enjoyed a range of activities from climbing to kayaking, and rifle-shooting to a beautiful hilltop walk. Everyone had the chance to challenge themselves and try out new skills, including varying levels of success balancing on the giant stand-up paddleboard! A new experience for a lucky few included sharing their tent with a visiting hedgehog! It was a fantastic trip enjoyed by pupils and staff alike, with much laughter, and a wonderful way to conclude a successful first year in the senior school.

Year 8

During enrichment week, the Year 8s took the trip to Norfolk for an activities and watersports adventure! Having arrived at our accommodation, we had a range of activities that challenged our grit and determination. The giant canoe reminded us of our Viking heritage with a range of techniques used to keep us all paddling in time – the most popular being singing which woke up the nesting birds on a quiet morning! We also enjoyed the kayaks, canoes and raft building which invariably meant that we ended up soaking wet but exhilarated. We had some land based options too which tested our ‘mind over matter’; the Manor Olympics, blind obstacle course, climbing and assault course. It was here that we saw lots of encouragement and team work as well as some amazing athleticism! One of the most popular activities was the stand up giant paddleboards. The intention was to get as wet as possible and dunking the instructors! Great fun was had, new friendships made and a massive sense of achievement made this a trip to remember.

Year 9

Year 9 enjoyed a trip to Thorpe Lakes, cultural education at the Morden Islamic Community Centre, textiles tie-dyeing, science experiments and Bronze Duke of Edinburgh expeditions.

Year 10

Year 10 had fun paint balling and team building, visited Portsmouth and went on a trip to the Imperial War Museum!  All in a week! The Year 10 geography students visited the River Tillingbourne as part of their GCSE studies.

On Thursday 30^th June year 10 pupils were given the opportunity to visit the Imperial War Museum and then to explore the nearby environment. In the museum, pupils took part in a workshop which facilitated them making 1 minute news reports relating to items that they found particularly interesting.  They also tracked down specific items relating to World War Two, the Cold War and winners of the Victoria Cross, as well studying a section of the Berlin Wall outside the museum and the Peace Garden.  After lunch the group walked up to Westminster Bridge, along the South Bank at the Covid Memorial Wall and down Lambeth Walk to return to the museum, helping them get a sense of that part of London and also giving them a wonderful view of the Houses of Parliament.  Pupils enjoyed a diverse and thought provoking day.

The River Tillingbourne might not be well known, but it was the perfect river for Year 10 to study as part of their GCSE Geography Physical fieldwork. They spent a day collecting different data from the river to explore how it changes downstream.  They examined the width, depth and sediment at 4 different sites along the course of the river in the Surrey Hills. A big thank you to all the geography staff who organised and ran the trip.