Creating a community with multi-academy trust trips

Made up of schools from south London and Surrey, the LEO Academy Trust takes 420 pupils from seven of its schools on annual residential visits to Devon, with trips for Years 4, 5 and 6.

The schools stay at the Ultimate Adventure Centre in Bideford and the entire venue is hired by the trust with pupils taking part in outdoor activities both on-site and at other nearby locations.

Nicky Joseph, outdoor educational officer at the LEO Academy Trust explained more about taking more than 400 pupils on a residential together.

“By hiring the entire venue, we create a unique sense of community where children not only take part in daily adventure activities, but also have the opportunity to mix, socialise, and build friendships with peers from other schools. Bringing 400 children to Devon for activities is about more than just fun - it’s an opportunity to develop essential life skills.”

On-site activities include paddleboarding, high ropes and assault courses, with surfing and coasteering taking place at Croyde Beach, where up to 50 people can be taking part in surfing at any one time. Other activities include a Total Wipeout-style assault course, building buggies, camp crafts and forest school sessions. Pupils also spend a morning or afternoon at The Big Sheep, a local farm which they visit during lambing season.

“By hiring the entire venue, we create a unique sense of community where children not only take part in daily adventure activities, but also have the opportunity to mix…”

Nicky Joseph, outdoor educational officer.

 

Students are grouped together with others from their school and each group will have a member of staff from the Ultimate Adventure Centre and a member of staff from the school.

“We have all 420 pupils and then most of our staff on site, with some staff staying nearby in a hotel. We have a 1:10 ratio for teachers with pupils so we always have enough staff on site to be with the groups,” Nicky added.

The week culminates in a disco on the final night, where everyone from all seven schools staying at the centre comes together to celebrate their achievements and reflect on the week.

Activities promote teamwork, communication and leadership. Young people build confidence and resilience by facing fears, adapting to new situations and problem-solving in real-time. Physical fitness and mental well-being are also key parts of the experience. Additionally, spending time in a natural coastal environment helps young people to develop a respect for nature and an awareness of risk management.

The trust works with the Ultimate Adventure Centre to ensure every aspect of the trip is planned. The schools provide the dedicated catering team with any dietary requirements before arriving and the centre talks to parents who may have concerns.

Nicky added: “They are very good at talking to parents. We have had parents take part in video calls with the centre because their children have medical needs, so the centre staff reassure them.

“The activity team organises all the activities and then runs them when we are there. There is a rooming team that makes sure everyone fits in the centre, making sure there are enough beds, ensuring everything is safe. The teams in the centre all help in different areas to make sure the whole trip is run smoothly.”

Spending time away from parents and building independent and interpersonal skills are all part of the residential visits for pupils. The most recent residential saw 420 Year 5 pupils visit over the first weekend of April.

For Years 5 and 6 the trips are an opportunity for young people to form bonds and build connections. Many of the pupils from the different schools will be preparing to move to the same secondary schools after Year 6 and can use the trip as an opportunity to meet some of the other young people who they will be going to school with.

“We find that the pupils from the different schools mix well and that is also because we do a lot of things together like football matches and other sports across the schools,” Nicky commented. “Whenever we do something together, we are a community of schools.”

Feedback from teachers

Teachers who went on the trip provided positive feedback, offering insight into the pupils’ experience.

Mr Clements, a teacher at Cheam Fields Primary School said: “What a great experience for the children. They had so much fun and completed many activities that many of them would never have experienced before.”

Mrs Parr from West Ashtead Primary Academy said: “It is the best residential I have experienced. The water-based activities give many of the pupils first time experiences, the accommodation is comfortable and the food delicious and plenty - which means the children are well rested and energised for the day. The on-site staff and instructors engage brilliantly with the children, making their week very memorable.”

Laird, a pupil at Cheam Fields Primary Academy commented: “The activities were brilliant as they were all different and unique. It was impossible to get bored as every second there was something to do. If I had the chance I would most definitely go again! 10 out of 10.”