If your child is or has been on residential – check out their blog for updates & pictures.

Here at Parklands, we believe residentials are a vital part of a child’s learning journey, as they offer opportunity for children to learn and experience new things outside the traditional classroom setting. We see the impact this has on our children, through the new friendships they forge and through the enhancement of both their teamwork and social skills. As a school, we do not charge our families for these privileges, as in this way we can ensure every child has access to these important and invaluable learning experiences.

Our residentials begin in Year 4 where our children embark on an unforgettable adventure to Yorkshire Camps in Skipton. The children engage in adventurous activities such as go-karting and low rope courses, as well as taking part in team games such as capturing the flag and indoor hockey. The children are given plenty of free time to explore Netherside Hall and they also participate in spiritual reflection, through exploration of biblical teachings about Jesus, as part of their RE curriculum.

In Year 5, our children spend three days completing a coastal study in Whitby. The children stay inside the Abbey walls at the flagship Youth Hostel before undertaking a wide range of coastal activities including beach trawls and fossil hunts. They examine and classify the coastal structures they can see and have studied in class, such as: caves, bays, headlands, stacks and stumps. In addition, the children study the impact Captain Cook had upon our Empire and look at the fishing industry in a seaside town. On one evening, the children take part in Mr Goodwin’s famous Ghost Walk – where they hear the spooky tales of Whitby’s past. The children and staff endure the famous 199 steps, jogging up and down twice a day, while exploring the town, engaging with locals and visiting the wonderful Whitby Museum, which holds the treasures and inventions of the past.

Finally, in Year 6, our children spend three days at PGL, where they are given the freedom to discover, learn and explore in a safe, stimulating environment. They are encouraged to participate in activities and challenges which help boost their social skills through teamwork, communication and cooperation. From creating wildwood shelters and building campfires, to orienteering and using a compass, PGL is packed with essential real-life skills that our children love to learn. The children also experience more than one high-adrenaline activity, increasing their confidence, resilience and independence.

We are indebted to our brilliant staff for making these experiences become a reality for our children and also to our sponsors, who ensure money is not a barrier to learning.