Residentials

We believe that residential experiences are an important part of our curriculum offer at Braithwaite School. We have carefully planned 2 contrasting residential experiences for all Key Stage 2 pupils to experience during their time with us. The visits deliver many areas of the curriculum, but with the main ones being PE (Outdoor Adventurous Activity OAA), Geography and PSHE (Personal, Social, Health, Economic Education). Residential visits are planned on a 2 year cycle.

In Year 3 or Year 4, we go to Bassenfell Manor which is a local Christian outdoor education centre where the children do activities such as orienteering, archery and canoeing, as well as team building activities, climbing and abseiling. For many children, this 1 night residential will be the first time that they are away from their family, which is why we have deliberately chosen to stay local so that the visit acts as a stepping stone for going further afield.

In Year 5 or Year 6, we take the children to London for 2 nights; we feel it is important that children get to visit and know their capital city. A joint visit took place in June 2022 with Lorton and Dean CE School, also Good Shepherd Trust member schools.  

The benefits of residential experiences for children include aiding social development through creating bonds with their peers, and using initiative to problem solve on a residential trip encourages children to step out of their comfort zone and embrace the world without their parents. Residentials also improve confidence and self esteem and challenge children to achieve things that they didn't think were possible. Most adults, if they were lucky enough to go on a residential visit when they were at school, will still remember that trip and speak fondly of it: residentials create life-long memories to cherish and can also form positive habits and hobbies into adulthood.