Visits & 'hands-on' experience days

The school firmly believes in learning from first hand experience and therefore offers a diverse range of curriculum linked trips in each year group which help bring learning to life.

Preston Manor
In Year 3 the children have the chance to experience life as a Victorian when they spend the day at Preston Manor. Each child is given a role to play and dresses appropriately for the occasion. They apply for jobs in the house, go through the interview process and some are lucky (or unlucky!) enough to be chosen.

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Tudor Day
Our Tudor Day is always a great success. The children learn the art of brass rubbing, play detective with Tudor artefacts, experience dance - Tudor style and are introduced to the works of William Shakespeare. The day is rounded off with a visit from a Tudor Apothecary who talks about living in Tudor times and dispenses information about medicines and Tudor cures!

Bignor Roman Villa
In Year 5, children visit Bignor Roman Villa for 1/2 a day as part of their history work. They study actual Roman mosaics and hear talks about Roman lifestyles. They also take part in workshop activities such as mosaic making and spinning wool. They also spend a half day on their 'Flight to India' experience.

Newhaven Fort

Year 6 pupils also study World War Two and the Blitz. They are lucky to be able to visit Newhaven Fort where they learn a little bit more of what life was like during the war. They are able to experience an air raid in one of the original shelters during the 'Blitz Experience', can walk through the underground passages and stand and look out from the Gun emplacements.

Junior Citizenship Day
Each year our Year 5 and 6 children are able to partake in a morning of activities with the local Ambulance, Fire, Police and Public Health services, learning about ways to stay safe within the community and how to react to situations that may arise when they are out and about. The day is
both fun and informative.

Blackstone Warren
In their week at Blackstone Warren, Eat Sussex, the children help to prepare their own food and are assigned to a rota to perform other duties that are perhaps less enjoyable, like washing up! This is designed to encourage independence and co-operation. During the days the children abseiled, tried their hand at archery and took part in various team challenges. In the evenings they played a variety of games and enjoyed sitting around the camp fire chatting, singing and drinking hot chocolate!

Whitecliff Bay, Isle of Wight

Last year 80 active pupils and 9 adults travelled to Whitecliff Bay on the Isle of Wight where they took part in a variety of outdoor and adventurous pursuits, including abseiling, air rifle shooting archery, climbing, fencing, orienteering and fun learning activities. The group’s survival skills were also tested and they took part in a beach hunt. There was no pitching tents as the children stayed in rather posh chalets and their food was prepared for them – there were even waiters! The best part was having the beach and sea only a few minutes away and even the inclement weather failed to dampen spirits in what was an action packed week.1

Knepp Estate, cycling the 'Downs Link and Watersports at Southwater Country Park.

For those children who decided not to go away to the Isle of Wight, a busy week of activities was organised. A day was spent visiting Knepp Estate, where the history of the estate was studied along witth nature and the countryside, using various mediasuch as art, sculpture, photography and drama.

A leisurely cycle ride along the Downs Link to Henfield and back with a picnic lunch was a fun day out in the countryside.

A day at Southwater Country Park provided new and exciting challenges such as kayaking, canoeing and dinghy sailing and was enjoyed by all.

Finally, a visit to Herstmonceaux Science Centre provided the children with the opportunity to try a number of 'hands-on' experiments and puzzles, as well as facing a 'team' bridge building challenge.

Pavilions in the Park

The design and development of the bathing area at the Pavilions in the Park captured the imagination of a number of our children. They were invited to create mosaics of there choice, which were then laid into the floors and walls of the pools for bathers to admire and enjoy. They were, as a result, invited to be among the first to sample the delights of the new facility. The young designers had a wonderful time proudly pointing out the results of their hard work whilst enjoying a well deserved swim. An added bonus was a whistle-stop tour around all the new facilities. Their initial impression and immediate reaction was very positive indicating many return visits.