At the end of the half term, we went on our annual Year 7 residential trip to PGL. Due to Covid, this trip had been on hold in recent years, but it was great to be able to resume it again, with the addition of Wren Enfield’s Year 7 students joining us too.

The trip gave an opportunity for students to meet and mix with new friends, complete team building activities and test their courage and resilience with activities such as climbing, archery tag and the fear inducing trapeze! I was incredibly impressed with the kindness and encouragement that students showed to each other and how fearless they were in tackling each of the activities.

Each evening the two schools joined together to complete a collective reflection and worship. In our reflection on the second night we grew a sycamore tree (the backdrop to the Zacchaeus story) with each Year 7 having collected a leaf to add to it over the course of the two days. Together they made a whole tree, which perfectly symbolised our belief that each student is a part of a much bigger whole, like a leaf is one part of a tree.

Below you can read two of our students comments about the trip:

It was really fun and a good experience. It helped me to improve on socialising and I made some new friends. I really enjoyed it all but my favourite thing was the archery as this is not something you get to do every day, it was really fun.  Aiden Y, 7 Holborn

I liked trying new things and challenging myself to go higher each turn on the high ropes. It was good to get to know some of the people in my year more and I look forward to continuing those friendships now we are back at school. The high ropes were my favourite!  Dara G, 7 Piccadilly