Year 7 Take on the Wild

June 2025 saw a group of our adventurous Year 7 students swap the classroom for the countryside as they headed to Badminton Woods for their Bushcraft residential experience.

This outdoor adventure is part of our wider commitment to providing rich and exciting student enrichment opportunities, giving pupils the chance to build life skills, develop independence and make memories that will last well beyond Year 7.

From the moment they left school, rucksacks packed and rain falling, the students launched themselves into the experience with energy and enthusiasm. Over four days and three nights, they took part in a packed timetable of hands-on activities including:

• Shelter building and survival bracelet crafting
• Knife and axe skills workshops with trained instructors
• Archery and camouflage training
• Fire lighting and campfire cooking (including gutting and roasting whole salmon!)
• First aid training and navigation challenges
• An SOS simulation involving a staged plane crash rescue
• Camp’s Got Talent and nightly games under the stars

Students cooked their meals over open fires, prepared veg for hearty stews, and even made popcorn and campfire cookies for their bushcraft bowls.

A Word from Mr Chandler, Head of Year 7:

“The staff have been so impressed with the Year 7 students. There were high levels of anxiety in the lead-up to the trip, but their energy and positive attitude have been amazing. We’ve seen their resilience grow and they’ve developed such a lovely bond as a group. I’m incredibly proud of them. I hope they carry this experience with them as a reminder of what they’re capable of.”

Outdoor Learning at The Bulmershe School

At The Bulmershe School, we believe in a balanced education, where academic learning is supported by real-world experiences and personal development. The Bushcraft residential is just one of the many extra-curricular and enrichment activities we offer to help students step out of their comfort zone and grow in confidence.

For those students who didn’t take part this year, don’t worry - there will be plenty more opportunities to get stuck in to outdoor learning and adventure in the months and years ahead.

A huge thank you goes to the incredible staff team - Miss Bishop, Mr Tomas, Mrs Cousins, Mr Cayton and Ms Grist - who made this experience possible.