Terrington Hall School

Outdoor Education

Terrington has an extensive outdoor education programme run by Simon Ferrier who is also the Senior Master and Head of Geography. Simon is highly qualified in a range of adventurous activities. He holds the Mountain Instructor Award which is the highest level in the UK for rock climbing and the Winter Mountain Leader Award. Simon is also an advanced senior instructor at kayaking (Level 4 coach) and an International Mountain Leader.  Simon has 20 years of experience climbing, kayaking and hang gliding mainly in the French Alps and Central Spain but also Australia, Canada and the U.S.A

The programme at Terrington is progressive with pupils in Year 3 onwards getting the opportunity to canoe, climb, orienteer and participate in mountain walking. The outdoor programme is an aspect of school that appeals to all pupils and is something that they can all succeed at, resulting in improvements in self confidence, self-esteem and a greater awareness of their environment.

The Kayaking in particular is progressed to a very high level with the opportunity to gain BCU star awards, take part in canoe slalom as well as tackle some challenging UK and Alpine rivers.

The skills learnt are used to get the maximum benefit out of the two expeditions, which form a large part of Years 7, and 8 at Terrington. In Year 7 pupils spend a week in the Ardeche, France, paddling a variety of rivers before embarking on a 2 day descent of the 30km Ardeche Gorge as a self-sufficient group. This involves an overnight bivi in the gorge and progress is reported back to school via the school website.

 

In Year 8 an advanced group visit the Southern French Alps having trained all year to paddle some classic Alpine rivers such as the Guil and Ubaye. The area is also a rock-climbing mecca with literally 100s of climbs suitable for school groups.

 

Mountain walking in the nearby Ecrins National Park provides the opportunity to see glaciers and some diverse Alpine fauna and flora. The 2007 group will also be whitewater rafting on the Durance River and taking part in a classic via ferrata which involves scrambling whilst attached to cables and ladders.

 

Beginner canoe sessions are held in the school pool and then progress to the local River Derwent. More advanced sessions take place at Howsham Weir, the River Ure and the River Tees.

The outdoor education programme follows all the latest guidelines on Health and Safety of Pupils on Educational Visits. It is hugely popular with pupils and parents the latter of which have helped to raise funds to ensure that our equipment is modern and user friendly. Staff and parents have also helped enormously to ensure the success of the programme, particularly the residential trips.

Click below to read the children's and the staff diaries from the trips.

Ardeche 2009 Year 8 Diary

Ardeche 2009 Year 7 Diary

Alps Diary Year 8 2008

Kayaking Team:

Please click here to read view the report and pictures of this competetion: THS Kayaking Slalom Event West Tanfield 26th September 2009

 

The children are prepared for more challenging rock faces in the Ardeche and the Alps on the purpose built climbing wall in the school sports hall.