Tag Archives: Block 3 induction

Reflections from Ullswater

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By Clive Burch, Head of Block 3

Coming to the end of this first week back at school, Ullswater seems not only a long way away but also a long time ago. However, while it is still relatively fresh in the collective memory (and before I sound too much like the opening of a space opera), I wanted to pause to reflect upon what has been achieved by Block 3 as a year group already this year.

Knowing everything they need to know for their return to school in a day was always going to be a stretch, but getting familiar with the school systems, our expectations, additional offerings, subject areas (if not individual classrooms) and the school grounds was a good start.

Then taking them away from all of this and placing them out of their comfort zone in the Lake District to do something they may not ordinarily do was a true test of character, which they passed with flying colours. There were some ambitious expeditions undertaken (one including a keen headteacher) and some mini adventures enjoyed. I certainly felt like I was part of a familiar fellowship when I joined a group for a gorge walk which culminated in a cliff jump. The whole group ended up doing this, much to my pride and joy.

Here, Block 3 student Maya reflects on the trip.

By Maya Tazi, Block 3

Ullswater was rich in life lessons, sometimes learned the hard way! Some moments were very fun, like the gorge scrambling, with its rushing current and beautiful views, or cliff jumping, which required the courage to jump in what felt like a frozen lake. Other parts were more challenging, like the dorm life, compromise with my roommates and organising turns to shower.

A big part of it was about teamwork; as a tutor group, we had to learn to work together as a team by learning coordination while rowing for hours, or working towards the same goals when hiking up a mountain or setting up camp for the night. Secrets were shared, laughs exchanged, tired groans echoed and friendships formed. Thank you to everyone who made the trip possible.

See more photos from Ullswater below.

Block 3 adventure

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By Greg Clarke, Teacher of Maths and Block 3 Tutor

This year’s intake of Block 3 – plus their form tutors and Head of Transition Clive Burch – spent last week at Cobnor Activities Centre on Chichester Harbour in West Sussex. The week is designed to assimilate the students as they settle into Bedales, with camping, an expedition, and a range of outdoor pursuits – plus plenty of card games, snacking and UNO – helping everybody enjoy the bracing coastal air, reacquaint with old friends after the summer and find lots of new friends with whom to enjoy the next few years at Bedales.

At various times in the week every group enjoyed kayaking, canoeing and sailing around the bay in a Hawk, working as a team to launch their craft from the little jetty. We also built rafts to race one another in, crafted from wooden posts and plastic barrels lashed together with ropes knotted into bowlines and half-hitches. I’ll leave you to imagine how sturdy one or two of those rafts were.

For landlubbers there was archery with the instructor who had a keen interest in history, aeroball (think of vertical basketball on a trampoline inside a cage, if you can), and practice at all the camping skills necessary for the expedition: pitching a tent; lighting a stove; cooking pasta in a mess tin; bending tent pegs; and packing a rucksack.

The expedition was a tough two days’ worth of hiking along the South Downs Way, in what turned out to be glorious sunshine that lifted spirits, drained sunscreen supplies and provided vital vitamin D for sustained walking. On my night at the campsite at Cocking, folk from the RAF entertained us all with several flypasts and stunts in their Chinook, and I feasted upon a gourmet pasta pesto (topped with parmesan) prepared by a team of Block 3 chefs.

After a lot of fun, by Friday afternoon there ensued a frantic all-hands-on-deck clean up and pack up to leave Cobnor looking miraculously even tidier than when we arrived. A big well done to everybody for surviving the rollercoaster up-and-South-Downs experience that was Cobnor 2021.

See photos from the Block 3 induction trip to Cobnor here.