Year 9 LOTC

Posted: 6th May 2022

Over the Bank Holiday weekend, 54 Year 9 pupils set off on their LOTC programme to the Mendip Hills.

The programme began with a caving experience and, despite some initial nerves, everyone successfully navigated the caves and were fortunate to spot lesser and greater Horseshoe bats along the way. Some tight squeezes tested their perseverance, but fantastic team work and encouragement of each other made for a really enjoyable trip. Pupils also tried their hand at orienteering and frisbee golf, and an alien invasion challenge back at camp which involved solving puzzles to obtain the key to escape.

Saturday saw the first of two days in Bristol where pupils visited the Aerospace Museum and boarded Concorde to learn how flight has developed over the years. This was followed by watching a performance of The Meaning of Zong at Bristol Old Vic.

On Sunday, the programme involved a visit to Bath to visit the Jane Austen Centre and Mary Shelley’s House of Frankenstein. Pupils enjoyed a very informative and fun tour of Bath’s highlights with a Jane Austen twist. The afternoon was spent shopping and enjoying the city’s architecture before heading back to camp for a quiz and debate on the books you would take to a desert island.

Bristol was once again the destination on Monday, where pupils participated in a graffiti tour and had the opportunity to experiment with their own Banksy-style spray paint art work. The Geography department then took over for the afternoon, with pupils completing a fieldwork study looking at the different areas of Bristol and conducted their own survey by interviewing local residents. Dinner out and an hour at the funfair were a great way to finish the day.

After striking camp on the final day, pupils headed off to the Mendip Watersports centre where they all had a go at the obstacle assault course. After a rather dry start, all teams found the water obstacles and ended up covered head-to-toe in mud.

An incredibly varied five-day programme allowed all pupils to really test themselves and develop their Mount Kelly values. All of the staff involved were proud of and impressed with the way pupils approached the week and conducted themselves throughout.

More photographs can be found on Facebook.

Categories: Academic Adventure
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