Outward bound
Adventure training
How does one develop children's potential for leadership and for extending themselves outside of the classroom? In the Junior School, a variety of adventure training opportunities encourage just this. Through the adventure activities, the pupils are encouraged to explore their spiritual, moral and physical nature by introducing them to new experiences in which they have to confront and deal with their abilities and those of others. The activities are always supervised by suitably qualified and experienced staff with some limited opportunities for parent to participate in the appropriate activities, such as the mountain bike expeditions.
- Mountain Biking Club takes place regularly on Fridays for two terms in a year plus two expeditions a year to different venues.
- Forms 4 and 5 Camp Out for one night only. Form 4s camp at the school and form 5s at a local farm.
- Form 5 Dover Watersports Day
- From 6 Rock Climbing Day
- Annual Form 7 Arena Pursuits Leadership Training Day
- Annual Form 8 Watersport Week in the south of France
- Annual ski trip
Annual Rua Fiola Survival Week in the Hebrides
Each year a group of Form 8s from the Junior School participate in the Rua Fiola survival week on a remote Hebridean island between the Isle of Jura and the Isle of Mull. On about 70 Acres of uninhabited Island, the youngsters can participate in canoeing, rocksports, seafishing, expeditions and the climax, the "Robinson Crusoe" survival challenge. This challenges entails living unaccompanied for 19 hours including overnight on an uninhabited island with only vital and emergency equipment and no food. You will be taught however how to find food, wilderness first aid and rescue signaling before your departure. See www.wild-island.co.uk.
M5 Afloat
In the last week of the first half of the summer term, the entire Middle 5th year group takes to the seas in a bonding exercise on board a number of sailing yachts in the Solent and the English Channel. Originally organised under the aegis of the CCF, this has now become a "civilian" operation lead by staff and thoroughly enjoyed by most pupils.
Duke of Edinburgh's Award
The broad philosophy of the Duke of Edinburgh's Award is to encourage the development of young people through a programme of participation. The Bronze Award, available to young people from the age of 13, allows them to develop in four key areas:
Service
At St. Edmund's School Canterbury, we offer a foundation course in first aid following the St. John's Ambulance Young Life Savers award.
Non-physical skill
The majority of our pupils learn a musical instrument and those who do not, are encouraged to start. Others have chosen to complete this section by developing their own hobbies in their own time or developing their I.T. skills (not playing computer games), again in their own time.
Physical skill
Anyone playing for a School team will complete this section as their training and matches are outside of their timetable. Similarly those who attend an after school sports clubs or are members of a sports club outside of School qualify. The emphasis is on regular participation and personal development rather than high levels of skill.
Expedition
We prepare them to undertake a two day, one night expedition of between 12 and 15 miles in the area south of Canterbury. Training covers map and compass skills, camp craft and cooking and learning to live and work independently as a group. Supervision during the qualifying expedition is from a distance via a network of check points. They complete a 10 mile hike to Whitstable and back as a practice expedition in preparation for their qualifying expedition.
We pull no punches and put the responsibility for the completion of the four sections, including the paperwork, on their shoulders. For most it is an extremely rewarding exercise and if all goes (very) well, the pupils should complete the Bronze award during the Lent and Summer terms of the Lower Fifth form.
Ten mile hike from the School to Whitstable and back in May 2008
