Year Six

Welcome to Year Six!

Year 6 Residential – Day 4 Round-Up

What another fantastic day we've had here at Barton Hall! We woke to yet another day of glorious sunshine, so it was hats on, sun cream applied and off we went for another action-packed day.

Breakfast was the perfect way to fuel up, with cereal, stacks of toast and bacon proving popular choices before everyone headed off to their morning activities.

Our first Vertical Challenge certainly lived up to its name! It was amazing to see how much the children's climbing skills, strength, perseverance and endurance have developed over the week. They tackled this challenge with confidence and determination, scaling it brilliantly. Several children commented on how incredible the view of the sea was from the very top – definitely worth the climb!

One group also had their turn on the Giant Swing, which has quickly become another residential highlight. There were huge cheers as Mrs Elliott bravely took her turn soaring through the air! The challenge has now been set for the rest of the staff to conquer any fear of heights when it's our turn tomorrow...

We also became survival experts during Survivor. After discussing what they would need to survive in the darkest Peru, the children came up with some very sensible ideas, discovering just how many different uses a torch, batteries and even sweet wrappers could have!

The first practical challenge was building a shelter. As with every activity this week, safety came first with a thorough briefing before the children got to work. Working in teams, they built three different shelters before enjoying a "tent tour", discussing the strengths and weaknesses of each design. It was wonderful to see everyone sharing responsibilities, tying ropes, hammering in some rather bent tent pegs and working so well together. One group even swept out their shelter and decorated it with homemade bunting! We couldn't help wishing their dorms were always that tidy! But that all changed later in the day!

Some of the children also had the opportunity to try stick whittling. They listened incredibly carefully to the safety instructions, showing great maturity as they gathered sticks and carefully practised this new skill.

Lunch certainly kept everyone fuelled for the afternoon, with cheeseburgers, veggie burgers and piles of chips on the menu, alongside the ever-present pasta, sandwiches and unlimited salad bar for anyone wanting other options.

After another round of sun cream, it was time for the afternoon adventures.

The Problem Solving challenges took place beneath the welcome shade of a huge oak tree. These activities really tested the children's teamwork, communication and thinking skills. From the Circle Challenge and Lava Crossing to Gutter Problem and Toxic Waste, every task encouraged the children to plan carefully, adapt their ideas and think metacognitively about what was and wasn't working. They quickly realised that sometimes individuals need to make sacrifices for the good of the team.

The teachers' favourite challenge was one that had to be completed entirely in silence! The children found some wonderfully creative ways to communicate without speaking and worked brilliantly together to solve the puzzle.

Next came Archery Tag, building on the archery skills they developed yesterday. Dressed head-to-toe in protective equipment, many thought they looked like characters from Halo and were keen for the games to begin! Two teams battled it out in a series of friendly matches, with impressive shooting, lots of laughter and everyone fully involved from start to finish.

Dinner was another delicious feast, with meatballs (including vegetarian options), chicken korma with rice and, of course, bowls and bowls of the ever-popular unlimited salad and jam sponge bar for pudding.

After giving the children a little warning, it was time for the much-anticipated room inspections... and what a transformation we discovered!

We were genuinely amazed by how brilliantly the children worked together. Beds were made, towels folded or neatly hung up, pyjamas were carefully arranged, socks were paired, and belongings were organised beautifully. The creative welcomes we received at each room made us smile too, with some groups even performing greetings and sharing their fans with us! It really demonstrated just how well this group can work together when they set their minds to a challenge.

Although there were winners (it was a competition after all!), we were so impressed with the effort shown by every room that every child received a well-deserved sweet treat.

As we write this, the children have just begun the eagerly anticipated water balloon battle. I can already hear the laughter, cheering and excited squeals from across the site!

So, this is the final evening update from Barton Hall. Tomorrow morning brings our last few adventures with the Giant Swing and the Sensory Trail, followed by traditional fish and chips before we head home.

We have had the most wonderful week, and it has been an absolute pleasure to share these adventures with such an incredible group of children. They have challenged themselves, supported one another, shown resilience, kindness and outstanding teamwork every single day. They have been exceptional ambassadors for Brook Field, and we couldn't be prouder of every single one of them.

We look forward to seeing you all tomorrow... along with the suitcases full of memories and, we're afraid to say, mountains of washing! 🌞😊

Year 6 Residential – Day 3 Round-Up

What another brilliant day we've had at Barton Hall! The sunshine has continued to shine on us, and the children have once again amazed us with their enthusiasm, resilience and teamwork.

The day began with another hearty breakfast to fuel us for the adventures ahead. There were sausages, crispy hash browns, baked beans and, of course, plenty of toast. There were also vegan sausages and halal chicken sausages available, alongside the usual cereals, fruit and the ever-popular flavoured water, which continues to be a firm favourite with everyone.

Our morning activities got off to a flying start with the trapeze. Every single child challenged themselves, whether they reached the very top or simply climbed higher than they ever thought they could. The staff were incredibly impressed with how determined everyone was to push beyond their comfort zones. Those who made it to the platform enjoyed the exhilarating moment of leaping into the air to catch the trapeze bar, all while being cheered on by their friends. It was wonderful to see such fantastic teamwork too, with everyone taking their turn to belay carefully and encourage one another.

We also enjoyed disc golf, and there was certainly no shortage of laughter! After practising together in larger teams, everyone headed out onto the woodland course, aiming frisbee discs at large basket targets. There were some impressive throws... and some wonderfully wild ones! Discs flew high into the trees, disappeared into bushes and occasionally rolled all the way back down the hills, much to everyone's amusement. There was lots of running between the different holes, children volunteering to keep score and plenty of encouragement as teammates celebrated each other's successes. We even saw some very inventive throwing techniques along the way!

Meanwhile, another group took on abseiling and quickly discovered they had a real talent for it. There were some fantastic Spider-Man impressions as children confidently made their way down the climbing wall. It was brilliant to see everyone growing in confidence with each descent.

With a little time to spare before lunch, there was even the opportunity for a cheeky game of football, which proved to be the perfect way to finish off a busy morning.

Lunch was another popular meal, with jacket potatoes served alongside a wide range of tasty toppings and, of course, the ever-popular unlimited salad bar.

After lunch came a visit to the PGL shop, which everyone had been looking forward to! The children loved browsing the shelves and carefully choosing what to spend their money on. There were plenty of thoughtful gifts selected for family members, along with a fair few sweets and treats too! Everything will be safely packed away and brought home on Friday.

The afternoon brought more excitement with the zip wire, which is no doubt one of the highest-rated activities of the week. There were huge smiles, plenty of thrills and some outstanding achievements as children soared through the trees. Everyone listened so well to the instructors that there was even time for those who wanted it to have a second go!

Our final activity was archery, where the children quickly discovered that practice really does make progress. Our instructor, Carys, commented on how much everyone's accuracy improved throughout the session and praised the effort and determination shown by every group. After practising, we even took part in a friendly competition against another group. There were cheers with every successful shot, excellent sportsmanship throughout and another well-deserved sweetie treat for everyone!

Dinner certainly caused the quickest response we've seen all week. As soon as the words "chicken nuggets!" were heard, children appeared from their rooms in record time! There were also vegetarian pasta and lasagne options available, followed by a choice of chocolate brownie or an ice lolly for pudding, ensuring everyone was well fed after another action-packed day.

One of the highlights of the evening was receiving mail from home. There were lots of smiling faces as children eagerly opened their letters and enjoyed reading messages from family and friends.

Next up is our Millionaire Quiz, before many of the children settle down to watch the England match, proudly wearing their football shirts and ready to cheer the team on. Come on, England!

We're expecting a few sleepy faces in the morning after a busy evening, but knowing this fantastic group, they'll be ready for another fun-filled day of adventures. Once again, they have been wonderful ambassadors for our school, showing resilience, kindness and encouragement every step of the way. We couldn't be prouder!

What a fantastic second day we've had here at Barton Hall – we're officially calling it Teamwork Tuesday!

The children woke to the sound of seagulls (a very different alarm clock from home!) before getting ready for another busy day. Breakfast set everyone up perfectly, with bacon, beans and oodles of toast on offer. The flavoured water stations continue to be a huge hit too, with children making sure they stay well hydrated throughout the day.

With another day of glorious sunshine ahead, the sun cream was applied generously before everyone headed off for their morning activities.

One group took on the challenge of abseiling. After climbing three ladders to reach the top, the children showed incredible bravery as they stepped over the edge. Every child pushed themselves to their own personal limits, and some discovered they had a real talent for it! Those who wanted another go were able to head back up for multiple descents, building confidence each time.

Another group put their teamwork and geography skills to the test during Orienteering. Before they even began, the children impressed us with their wonderfully creative team names – The Metacognition Masters was certainly a favourite! They played games involving seals, cats and even the Lorax before putting into practice all the map-reading and compass skills they had learned back at school. It was fantastic to see them confidently orientating their maps and navigating around the beautiful Barton Hall grounds.

Meanwhile, another group tackled the trapeze, showing great determination and courage as they challenged themselves to climb higher than they ever thought possible.

Lunch was just what everyone needed after such an active morning. The menu included pasta Bolognese with garlic bread, a ratatouille option, and a choice of ham, cheese or tuna sandwiches, ensuring there was something for every taste. The unlimited salad bar continues to be a huge success, with so many children choosing healthy options. One child, in particular, seemed determined to keep the sweetcorn supplies running low!

The afternoon was all about communication, perseverance and teamwork.

On Jacob's Ladder, children worked together to climb higher and higher, supporting one another every step of the way. The conversations were wonderful to hear:
"Can you hold this?"
"How do I do this?"
"You've got this!"

The teamwork on display was exceptional. The children listened carefully to instructions from both the instructors and their teammates, encouraging each other throughout. It was a brilliant reminder that working together really is the best way to reach the top.

Next came Buggy Building, where the first challenge was simply learning how to tie the correct knots! For some, this was trickier than expected, but everyone persevered. Those knot-tying skills were soon put to good use as each team constructed their own buggy before putting it to the ultimate test in some very competitive races! The smiles said it all, and one team's buggy, proudly named Turbo, certainly lived up to its name.

Today's activities perfectly demonstrated the power of teamwork. Whether climbing, navigating, building or racing, the children discovered just how much they can achieve when they communicate, support one another and never give up.

Dinner this evening was another popular one, with chicken katsu curry, macaroni cheese, the ever-popular salad bar and a delicious ice lolly for desert.

As we write this, all the children are enjoying the disco, with the PGL leaders leading the way on the dance floor in fancy dress! There have already been some fantastic dance moves on display, with games and dancing filling the evening before a well-earned night's sleep.

The children continue to make us incredibly proud. Their resilience, enthusiasm and kindness towards one another have been outstanding, and we're all looking forward to another exciting day of adventures tomorrow!

Year 6 Residential – Day 1 Round-Up

What a fantastic start to our Year 6 residential!

We had a peaceful and relaxed journey, making a well-timed comfort stop at Sedgemoor Services. Before long, the music was on and we were treated to some wonderful singing – a sure sign that everyone was looking forward to the adventure ahead.

We arrived to glorious sunshine and enjoyed our picnic lunch in the shade of the parasols, with a lovely breeze helping us stay cool. It was also the first opportunity for everyone to get organised, and some children were already discovering an important lesson of residential life – you really do have to carry all of your own belongings! Everyone rose to the challenge brilliantly.

After taking our bags to our rooms, it was straight into our first afternoon of activities. Groups tackled climbing, the zip wire and aeroball, and what an afternoon it was!

The climbing wall was full of determination and encouragement. Some children challenged themselves to race to the top, while others focused simply on reaching new heights. There were plenty of "summit celebrations", but the biggest achievement was seeing every child have a go, support one another and step outside their comfort zone.

Aeroball proved to be an instant favourite. With some wonderfully creative team names, lots of energetic bouncing on the trampolines and some impressive shooting skills, there was plenty of laughter and excitement.

The zip wire certainly got hearts racing! Children stepped off the platform with huge smiles and returned feeling exhilarated. It was lovely to see so much teamwork, with everyone cheering each other on and celebrating one another's successes.

As the afternoon went on, the cloud cover arrived, making it the perfect temperature for all of our outdoor activities.

Afterwards, everyone returned to their rooms for a well-earned half-hour break. Some enjoyed a refreshing shower, and we're delighted with our accommodation – the rooms are lovely, clean and some of the nicest on the site.

Tea was a real success too. There was plenty of choice, including fish fingers and chips, vegetable chow mein, chicken in tomato sauce, pasta, a well-stocked salad bar, and fresh fruit and jelly for pudding. Judging by the enthusiastic thumbs up around the dining hall, everyone left feeling full and ready for the evening ahead.

As we write this update, we're just about to head out for our final activity of the day – a treasure hunt around the grounds. It's a great way to help everyone get their bearings while enjoying the cooler evening air.

We couldn't be prouder of the children today. They have embraced every challenge, encouraged one another, shown fantastic teamwork and approached every activity with enthusiasm and positivity. They have been wonderful ambassadors for our school, and we are all looking forward to another fun-filled day tomorrow.

We'll be back with another update tomorrow!

Mrs Batcup

Class Teacher Y6B

Miss Perry

Class Teacher Y6A

Mrs Butcher

Teaching Assistant

Miss Farrow

Teaching Assistant

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