Turn Mill brook jump challenge

 Tuesday afternoon led Year 6 to venture a few miles up the A449 to the walk at Turn Mill. 

After walking alongside a couple of fields the path crosses over a track leading to some fishing pools just outside Ombersley village. The overflow from these pools forms a small stream that winds a half a mile down towards the River Severn.

The stream is spanned by a fallen tree and alongside it is a natural ramp which has proved a little elusive to some of the pupils. They have been working up the courage to jump the gap for months now and the challenge was set after their tutor jumped it a couple of times, so they could see it was achievable.

There was some support, encouragement, goading and laughter which eventually led to four of the class sailing through air, across the stream, time and again.

I told the pupils if they felt confident that they could do it.....

                                         Don't think about how bad it could be if it goes wrong...                                        but think how great you'll feel when it goes right!

Friday high jinks with 10/11

 Numbers allowed the top two years to combine the other Friday and the collective made their way to the shoulder of hills between the Herefordshire and Worcestershire Beacons.

After parking the bus, the class were tested immediately by being tasked with straight lining up through the woodland to the Quarry entrance.

Black Hill has a fabulous old quarry which is backed by some really steep slopes covered with loose rock and scree. The pupils were given a quick recap on safety when scrambling and then off they clambered (some with more success than others).

They were all to a man blown away by the vista when they were able to compose themselves to face outwards. it was a glorious, clear day and the view reached across the Severn plain all the way to Broadway and beyond.

The journey back down was markedly quicker for some of the class...

...and a quick stone was placed on the cairn at the quarry floor.

After another bushwhack in a straight line through the undergrowth back to the bus, we headed down to the common to challenge the pupils to face off against each other.

The premise was simple; a ton bag and two hazel poles for each team.

A member of staff in the bag.

Poles through the bag loops.

A person at each end.

Lift...

...and race.

It even inspired some of the more physically adept pupils to have a try on their own...impressive!

What a difference

 Two classes were taken for a walk over the last few days.Up to the top of the British Camp on the Malvern Hills and down over towards Hangman's Hill. Overlooking the Eastnor obelisk from Hangman's Hill is the curious site of Clutter's Cave. It has traditionally been thought of as a medieval hermit's cave, but no mention of it can be found before the mid-19th century, and it may have been constructed as a 'grotto' associated with the Eastnor estate.

Their experiences couldn't have been more different!

Whilst Year 6 were greeted with bright blue skies and a gorgeous Spring morning which offered an exhilarating view both East and West...

Year 5, only a few days later, were struggling to see more than 20 metres ahead of them at times (leading to re-tracing our steps for a while on the return leg after losing the path...a good, first hand learning opportunity for the group.

The cave itself was polarising.Greeted with both awe or indifference by the pupils of both group...which was genuinely funny to the others in the class.

It was good to offer the question out to the pupils about how they think the cave came about. There were many creative suggestions;

Meteor strike,

Giant,

Big animal

or a tramp's toilet!

Big Day Out to the Doward

Once a far more industrial site, this small and ancient nature reserve is set within the Doward landscape near Symonds Yat. A footpath runs between the canopy of woodland, from the car park leading to King Arthur’s Cave. 

Encouraging green fingers in the Forest School

There has been a big push over the last few weeks to catch the start of Springtime growing season, with the intention of really trying to open the eyes of the pupils to what the possibilities are when you grow and cultivate flowers and vegetables. 

The garden will really come into its own this spring, transforming our forest school space into a lively, colourful corner of growth and discovery.

After the quiet of winter, the first buds of leaf and blossom are appearing on trees and plants, just as the children returned with fresh curiosity, giving them a front‑row seat to the season’s changes. 

We have planted a couple of apple trees by the end of the poly tunnel which will hopefully reward the pupils with a tasty treat come late Autumn. Hopefully the mix of wild and cultivated planting will encourage more wildlife too—bees drifting on the breeze, birds investigating new hiding spots, and the occasional ladybird becoming an unexpected teaching moment. We also have regular visits at night time by a fox, who has dug a little channel under the front fence leading into the Forest School area.

What’s been most rewarding is how the garden has become a natural extension of the children’s learning. They’ve taken real ownership of watering, weeding, and checking to see what is changing and emerging, and you can see their confidence grow alongside the plants. 

Spring has given them a chance to explore textures, scents, and colours in a hands‑on way that only an outdoor classroom can offer (they were really struggling with a particularly smelly bag of compost in the poly tunnel)! The garden’s success isn’t just in how well it’s growing, but in how it’s helping the children connect with nature and feel proud of the space they’ve helped bring to life.

Year 6 adventure to Habberley Valley

 Venue choice for Outdoor Education is tricky at times during early Spring. The amount of rain that had fallen over the previous few days made conditions pretty heavy going at many places. A decision was made to journey to the other side of  Bewdley to Habberley Valley Nature Reserve where the valley floor and slopes feel noticeably gritty and dry. 

Habberley Valley is sandy because it is carved into ancient red sandstone, a rock made from compacted sand deposited millions of years ago in a hot, arid environment. Over time, weathering breaks this sandstone back down into loose, sandy soil making it a favourable choice during the recent wet and stormy weather.

The class made there way towards Peckett Rock, an imposing sandstone outcrop which offers the challenge of scrambling up to the summit, where there are panoramic views of the reserve.

The class are briefed on safety and expectations before they attempt the scramble and the less adventurous are accompanied by staff to skirt around the foot of the outcrop.

At the summit, there is a recap with the pupils, asking them how they feel, re-enforcing the jeopardy that scaling up these places entails.

Some of the pupils were fascinated by the sandstone. How it was soft and many people had worn tracks and gulleys over the years when climbing to the top. Many had carved words and initials into the surface of the outcrop.

After clambering carefully down to the foot of the outcrop, the class made their way to the wooded flanks of a steep bank, where they took turns seeking thrills on the rope swing.

Forest school Year 3 and 4

 The weather on return after the Christmas dropped off considerably, making it feel more like Winter than before the break. Forest School as a result has had some pretty chilly sessions and one of the first things the pupils are tasked with doing is lighting a fire.

This often requires a steady supply of firewood and even though we usually have some pallets, they need sawing, prising apart and the nails bent over/hammered flat to make it safer to handle.

After a full and thorough debrief and safety talk, outlining the dangers of using sharp or heavy tools, the pupils are set to utilise them as independently as they can. This is a great exercise in risk awareness, concentration and commit, helping the pupils realise that there is work and effort to all tasks when in the sessions.