Half Term Programme Torquay Takeover

May Bank Holiday saw our boarders head off to Devon for their half term break. A 52-seater coach with no spare seats embarked on the 6-hour journey to the South coast. This was a well-deserved break from the daily routines of boarding at Ackworth School and allowed them the opportunity to have some time away from technology, making memories that will last a lifetime.

On the first day, an excursion to the beach was welcomed by all. We were fortunate with the weather; getting through numerous bottles of factor 50 sunscreen says it all! We swam in the sea, played football on the beach and enjoyed traditional Devon ice-cream. And if that wasn’t enough, the same evening, we went to the fun fair! The pupils’ smiles and pure enjoyment of spending such a fun evening together made it all worthwhile.

Based at a PGL outdoor adventure camp, the pupils enjoyed revising by the pool during downtime and indulging in the occasional dip! Activities such as canoeing and the zip wire were a massive hit and the staff were so proud of each and every one of the pupils for getting stuck in and even conquering their fears.

On our last night, we all gathered around the campfire and spent the evening reflecting on our week, and indeed, the last year. It was lovely for our Upper Sixth Form pupils to have been given the opportunity to spend this time together – some of them have been with us since 1st Form. There were some emotional moments when reminiscing about their time at Ackworth School and what the future holds for them.

A huge thank you to the staff that gave up their half term to make this memorable trip possible!

Nicola Gilbert