Expeditions
Box Hill School Expeditions
We are keen to ensure that by the time our students leave us, they have learnt to take responsibility for themselves and others, and to meet challenges head on. Expeditions help us to develop these skills in our students, and are an integral part of the curriculum in the first three years at Box Hill School. Our expeditions are organised by year group and take place in September and during the last week of school in June. All of our students are involved in a minimum of two expeditions per year.
During the week, outdoor education is taught during our activity programme. It is also available to other students who take part in archery, air rifle shooting, rock climbing and who use our high ropes course.
- Students cooking outdoors on a camping expedition
Year 7
In September, Year 7 students are taken on an expedition to the New Forest, where they take part in mountain biking, and rock climbing activities. In June they are taken to the Brecon Beacons in Wales, for a caving and gorge walking expedition.
Year 8
Year 8 students spend their September expedition week at Mercer Lake in Redhill, learning to sail and canoe. Their expedition in June takes them to the Peak district where they try out rock climbing, and learn navigation and hiking skills.
Year 9
Year 9 students spend one lesson a week on a first aid course and planning their Duke of Edinburgh’s Award expedition. Year 9 is the time for students to undertake their Bronze qualifying expedition for the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme, and this is compulsory for all students, and the expedition currently takes place in either Dorset or the New Forest. Those students who wish to are then able to continue the Bronze level of the Award in Year 10, followed by Silver and Gold in later years.
Weekends and school holidays
Other expeditions and activities happen throughout the year at weekends and during the school holidays. Mountain biking is a favourite activity at the moment, with some students opting to do this for GCSE P.E. We take them to Snowdonia and the Lake district in small mixed age groups for these activities.
Abroad
Expeditions abroad have included adventure activities in Europe (Austria, France) and further afield such as white water rafting in South Africa. Older students have spent time in the Indian Himalayas and have climbed a number of peaks above 6000m.
Upcoming expeditions include:
July 2012 - Round Square South Africa project
